Maria Gabriela Mendez-Violinist
Venezuelan violinist Maria Gabriela Mendez has captivated audiences worldwide with her dynamic performances and expressive musical artistry. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Performance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she serves as a String Quartet Teaching Assistant. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance from Florida State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and receiving multiple scholarships, including the Latin American Caribbean Scholarship and the College of Music Scholarship.
Maria has performed with esteemed ensembles such as the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and the Panama City Symphony Orchestra. She has held leadership roles as Concertmaster of the Montclair State Symphony Orchestra and Associated Concertmaster of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil de Chile, and currently serves as Concertmaster of the University of Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra.
Her international career includes performances and tours across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with appearances in Italy, Sweden, Portugal, and Germany with the Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has performed under internationally renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Paolo Bortolameolli, and Gustavo Dudamel. An active chamber musician, Maria has participated in prestigious festivals such as the Grant Park Music Festival (as a String Fellow), Prague Summer Nights Music Festival (Associate Concertmaster), the Brevard Music Festival, and the International Music Festival of Patagonia. She has worked with distinguished artists including Augustin Hadelich, Ilmar Gavilán, Melissa White, Leon Spierer, and Wu Han.
Dedicated to music education, Maria has over a decade of teaching experience, mentoring students in the United States, Chile, and Venezuela.
Accompanists Philip Solomonick for Dvořák’s Romance and Stephanie Petinaux for Franck's Sonata.
Please note that this concert is on Saturday, March 7th
