Maria Del Valle

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

Maria is a flute player with 12 years of teaching experience creating music programs in international schools, charter schools, and El Sistema programs throughout New York City and East Africa. She is currently the Director of Music at WHIN Music Charter School, an El Sistema inspired School in Washington Heights. 

Maria co-founded Upbeat City Arts, 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, 2022, she was named a quarterfinalist by the RECORDING ACADEMY© and THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION© Music Educator Award and is a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award. She loves to travel, read, make music, and is dedicated to decolonizing the music curriculum, creating culturally responsive lessons, and making arts accessible for all children.