Maria Alexandra Paparoni

String faculty member Maria Alexandra Paparoni is a Venezuelan-based violist and teaching artist formed in El Sistema, the Venezuelan National Youth Orchestra Foundation founded by José Antonio Abreu. She has played with orchestras such as the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and the Teresa Carreño Orchestra as her permanent orchestra. She has also performed in legendary venues including Royal Albert Hall, Gasteig Philharmonie, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, The Felsenreitschule, Shanghai Symphony Hall, Concert Hall of National Grand Theatre in Beijing, and participated at such prestigious festivals as Salzburg Festival. She has worked with many eminent conductors: Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Christian Vazquez, Diego Matheus, Leonard Slatkin, and Mei-Ann Chen, among others.

Maria’s teaching journey began in Venezuela, where she worked with young musicians through El Sistema, fostering their growth not only as performance but also as active contributors to their communities.