Hola!
Welcome! I’m María Mendoza, a Venezuelan flutist, composer, and music educator with a passion for jazz and improvisation. Thanks for stopping by—I hope you enjoy exploring my musical journey!
My Story
My musical journey began at the age of eight in Venezuela’s celebrated Sistema de Orquestas, where I learned from remarkable mentors who fueled my passion for music. My dedication to teaching young musicians led me to study music pedagogy, including the Suzuki philosophy, and pursue advanced training in performance, jazz, and improvisation at institutions like the Florence Academy of the Arts (Mexico), Centro Universitario de Estudios Musicales de Querétaro (Mexico), and Berklee (USA).
Throughout my career, I’ve been honored with awards in flute and piccolo competitions, including second place at the International Flute Competition in Guanajuato, Mexico, and the Eugene Magalif International Flute Competition in New Jersey, USA. My love for jazz has also led me to create my own musical projects, "Cachamay" and "Así Pelao'", with which I’ve had the opportunity to perform in various settings and record original music that brings together my cultural roots and jazz influences. In addition, I take part of different formations like "Kobogó" (Brasilian Music - Active member), and "Surensemble" (Latinamerican Modal Jazz - Guest).
By March 2025 I've finished my Master’s in Jazz Improvisation at Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany. Thank you for visiting my page, and I hope my music resonates with you!