Dr. Melissa Melendez, a Venezuelan-American, began her musical journey in Caracas, Venezuela, as part of El Sistema and the prestigious Emil Friedman Fine Arts School. After graduating from high school, she continued her studies internationally at Louisiana State University, earning her Bachelor of Music in Performance. She holds a Master’s in Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music, an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University, and a Doctoral Degree in Musical Arts from The University of Arizona.
Recently relocated to Austin from Corpus Christi, TX, where she served as Adjunct Professor of Viola at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Orchestra Director of Roy Miller High School, and Assistant Director of the Corpus Christi Area Youth Orchestra.
Dr. Melendez currently serves as principal violist of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, TX, and is a member of the Central Texas Viola Section. She has held full-time positions with the Tucson Symphony, the Corpus Christi Symphony, the Kingsville Symphony, and the Baton Rouge Symphony orchestras. She is also a member of the Iris Collective in Memphis, TN, and frequently performs with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in Charleston, SC as member of the viola section.
As a soloist, Dr. Meléndez has performed with the Corpus Christi Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Kingsville Symphony, Balcones Symphony Orchestra, Corpus Christi Chorale, TAMUCC Orchestra, Sinfónica de Carabobo and Virtuosi de Caracas. An avid supporter of new music for the viola, Meléndez performed the Castellanos-Yumar Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in the American Viola Society Festival 2016, and performed new music for viola and bassoon in the AVS Festival 2018. In 2018, during the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Soundwaves Festival, Meléndez premiered the Concierto in Tango (piano and viola version) by Miguel del Aguila, and again during the American Viola Society Virtual Conference in 2021. While teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Dr. Melendez organized, and established for seven years the Islander Viola Days. A day dedicated to teaching, and sharing viola music with Middle School and High School students from the Corpus Christi area.
Dr. Melendez is an active member of the American Viola Society, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and the Texas Music Educators Association. She has lectured on topics including new viola repertoire, Suzuki in the Schools, and Teaching in Title I public schools.
She enjoys playing chamber music with her husband, three children, and colleagues wherever she goes. Dr. Melendez is thrilled to be part of the vibrant string community in Austin, where she will join the Austin Community College Music as Adjunct Professor of Viola, Music Appreciation, and continue to promote high quality string education for all students.