Education
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, California; Master of Music, 2012
La Schola Cantorum, Paris, France; Diplôme, July 2011
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; Bachelor of Music, 2010
L’École Normale de Musique de Paris, Paris, France; Diplôme, July 2009
Employment
Fellowship Mentor, Luna Composition Lab, New York, New York, since 2024
Alto, Border CrosSing, St. Paul, Minnesota, since 2023
Arranger, La Voz Music Publishing, Aberdeen, North Carolina, since 2023
Alto, EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble, Detroit, Michigan, since 2018
Composer-Arranger, Walton Music, Chicago, Illinois, since 2014
Translator, since 2013
Composer, earthsongs, Corvallis, Oregon, since 2010
Composer, since 2008
Alto, Dallas Chamber Choir, Dallas, Texas, 2014-24
Honorable Mention Mentor, Luna Composition Lab, New York, New York, 2023-24
Composer, Consortio, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2018-23
Voice Instructor, Your Lessons Now LLC, Vancouver, Washington, 2020-22
Alto, Pasión, McAllen, Texas, 2021
Voice Instructor, L.D. Bell High School, Hurst, Texas, 2019-20
Voice Instructor, Timber Creek High School, Fort Worth, Texas, 2012-16, 2018-19
Composer-in-Residence, International Orange Chorale, San Francisco, California, 2018
Adjunct Instructor in Orchestration, Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, 2017
Voice Instructor, Euless Junior High School, Euless, Texas, 2016
Voice Instructor, Legacy High School, Mansfield, Texas, 2015-16
Alto, Vox Humana, Dallas, Texas, 2013-16
Voice Instructor, Keller High School, Keller, Texas, 2014-15
Alto, New World Voices, Dallas, Texas, 2014-15
Soloist-Section Leader, University Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas, 2013-15
Voice Instructor, Fossil Ridge High School, Fort Worth, Texas, 2012-14
Publications
De colores, SSA chorus and piano; La Voz Music Publishing, 2023
De colores, TBB chorus and piano; La Voz Music Publishing, 2023
Patterns on the Snow, SATB chorus and piano; Walton Music, 2023
Patterns on the Snow, SSAA chorus and piano; Walton Music, 2020
Sérénade italienne, TBB chorus and piano; Walton Music, 2020
Les Papillons, SSA chorus and piano; Walton Music, 2017
Le Colibri, SSA chorus and piano; Walton Music, 2017
Hébé, SSA chorus and harp or piano; Walton Music, 2015
The Cloths of Heaven, SSA chorus and piano or strings and harp; earthsongs, 2015
The Cloths of Heaven, SATB chorus and piano or strings and harp; earthsongs, 2010
Residencies
Featured Guest-Presenter, Iowa Choral Directors Association Summer Symposium,
Pella, Iowa, July 2024
presented “On Composing for the Voice: Purpose and Process,” to discuss text analysis and compositional process; “The Mixed Voice and Soprano-Alto Choral Works of Mari Esabel Valverde,” a survey of my choral catalogue; and “Singing Authentically: Transgender Vocal Pedagogy for Everybody,” to discuss my vocal transition, challenge preconceptions around trans voices, and share resources for vocal training
Artist-in-Residence, Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, Oregon, April 2024
rehearsed non-auditioned and auditioned choirs and conducted them in a concert featuring five of my original works; presented “On Composing for the Voice: Purpose and Process” to discuss text analysis and compositional process; led a voice masterclass working with transgender students; presented on transgender choral and vocal pedagogy; presented “What I Wish Choral Directors Knew” to discuss how a composer makes an income, publishing vs. self-publishing, and compositional choices in my music; participated in a Q&A session on my career as a composer in classical music
Featured Guest-Presenter, Songbird Symposium, Fort Worth, Texas, June 2023
presented “An Introduction to the Soprano-Alto Choral Works of Mari Esabel Valverde,” a survey of my choral catalogue for treble voices
Artist-in-Residence, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, March 2023
workshopped treble choirs on two original works; participated in a Q&A session on my career as a composer in classical music
Featured Guest-Presenter, The Rotunda, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 2023
taught private voice lessons to transgender and non-binary singers; presented an updated iteration of “Expanding Definitions of ‘Woman’: Singing Authentically” recounting the story of my vocal transition; and sang a short classical vocal recital
Featured Guest-Presenter, The Conductor’s Experience, San Angelo, Texas, July 2022
had five original works used as required repertoire in three choral conducting seminars; presented on transgender choral and vocal pedagogy; presented “On Composing for the Voice: Purpose and Process” to discuss text analysis and compositional process; and participated in a Q&A session on my career as a composer of choral music
Artist-in-Residence, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, April 2022
visited with music composition students to offer professional mentorship; participated in a Q&A session on my career as a composer in classical music; workshopped voice students on original works; and presented on transgender choral and vocal pedagogy
Artist-in-Residence, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, March 2019
workshopped the tenor-bass choir on an original work; visited with students in the “Music, Gender, and Sexuality” and “Choral Literature” courses; presented “Believe My Story: An Intersectional Talk on Consent and Shame”; was interviewed in a “Community Conversation on Trans Identity”; met with wellness peer educators and Sexual Assault Resource Network student advocates for an informal training on transgender health; and performed “Transvocality: An Exposé of My Musical Journey,” a half-voice, half-composition recital
Featured Guest-Presenter, Transgender Voices Festival, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 2018
taught private voice lessons to transgender and non-binary singers; presented “Expanding Definitions of ‘Woman’: Singing Authentically” and instructed transgender women in speech and singing in an open voice coaching; and sang a classical set in an all-transgender cabaret
Artist-in-Residence, West Valley College, Saratoga, California, October 2017
workshopped mixed choir on an original work; clinicked chamber singers; assisted in music theory and musicianship courses; spoke to music majors on the profession; and led a “campus conversation” on social justice, privilege, and intersectionality
Artist-in-Residence, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, November 2015
workshopped mixed and treble choruses on three original works; led a voice masterclass for two studios; taught private voice and composition lessons; and led formal discussions on LGBTQ-related professional and social justice matters
Awards
Semi-Finalist, the American Prize in Composition “Shorter Choral Works” in the Professional Division, 2023-24
Finalist, Ensemble Companio’s Tenth Anniversary Commission Competition, 2022
Semi-Finalist, the American Prize in Composition “Shorter Choral Works” in the Professional Division, 2019-20
Third Place, the American Prize in Composition “Music for Chorus” in the Professional Division, 2017-18
First Place, Boston Choral Ensemble‘s Commission Competition, 2017
Finalist, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble‘s Composition Contest, 2017
Recipient, the ASCAP PLUS Award, 2014
Recipient, the ASCAP PLUS Award, 2013
Finalist, Simon Carrington Chamber Singers’ Choral Composition Competition, 2012
Recipient, the ASCAP PLUS Award, 2012
Second Place, Minnesota Music Educators Association‘s Collegiate Composition Contest in the Chamber Music Division, 2009
Semi-Finalist, National Association of Teachers of Singing‘s Regional Competition, 2007
Organizations
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), since 2010
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), since 2008