Maria Valdes cultivates joy, healing, wellness and a results-orientation in her teaching and learning. Maria grew up in Mexico City surrounded by musical instruments. She played the piano and guitar from a young age and started with flute at 18; she came to Victoria in 1999 for her 11th grade in flute and won the George Giles and the Highest Mark awards at the Victoria Conservatory of Music that year. Maria played with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra for 32 years (including Mexico, Guatemala, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Brazil tours). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Artistic Education with a full scholarship from Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico.
She speaks Spanish, English, Italian, French, and Portuguese. In Victoria, she has performed with Meridiem Wind Orchestra, Backstrom Cello Chamber Music, Victoria High Notes Flute Choir, among many others.