Maria Del Valle is is an activist, musician, teacher, consultant, and social entrepreneur. Originally from Puerto Rico, she now resides in New York City. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Music Education from the Longy School of Music at Bard College. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Musical Arts at Boston University.  

Maria is a flute player with over a decade of teaching experience creating music programs in international schools, charter schools, and El Sistema programs throughout New York City and East Africa. She is the Director of Music at WHIN Music Charter School, an El Sistema-inspired School in Washington Heights, and Course Facilitator at the Longy School of Music at Bard College.  

Maria co-founded Upbeat City Music, a community for Urban Arts educators to support one another and share resources, and founded Shine on Kids Arts Initiative, a community-based arts program for children and families based in Uptown, Manhattan.   

In 2020, 2021, and 2022, she was named a quarterfinalist by the RECORDING ACADEMY© and THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION© Music Educator Award and is an Excellence in Teaching Award winner. Besides traveling, gardening, and hiking, she is passionate about creating culturally relevant lessons and making arts accessible to all students. 

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