Maria Augusta Trapp was an Austrian author and the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers. She was born Maria Augusta Kutschera on January 26, 1905, and passed away on March 28, 1987. Her memoir, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," published in 1949, is the story of her family's musical pursuits and escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, which later served as the inspiration for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music." Maria's book detailed the family's Christian faith, their musical development, and their journey to the United States where they settled in Vermont and continued their music careers. Her story has charmed audiences worldwide and continues to be celebrated in both film and on stage.