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 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.

Dr. Melendez currently serves as principal violist of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, TX, and has held full-time positions with the Tucson Symphony, the Corpus Christi Symphony, and the Kingsville Symphony orchestras. She is also a member of the Iris Collective in Memphis, TN, and frequently performs as a guest musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in Charleston, SC. She enjoys playing chamber music with her husband, children, and colleagues wherever she goes. Dr. Melendez is thrilled to join the vibrant string community in Austin, where she will be joining the Austin Community College Music Faculty, teaching viola privately, and most importantly, cherishing time with her family and playing viola.