ABOUT
Formed by Maria Vallejo (flute) and Noe Garcia (guitar) in 2021, Duo Simiente performs a variety of music written for this ensemble and are passionate about bringing the repertoire to audiences nationally and abroad.
At the heart of the duo's mission is the expansion and promotion of music by Latin American composers, driven by their belief that this music is often underrepresented and underperformed. The name Simiente, meaning seed or the origin of something new in Spanish, reflects the duo's vision to cultivate awareness, representation, and repertoire of Latin American music.
Meet the musicians
Maria Vallejo, Ecuadorian flutist, is an accomplished solo, chamber, and orchestral musician who has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador. She has participated in renowned festivals such as the Round Top Music Festival and the Orchestra of the Americas, and has played with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Toronto Concert Orchestra, and more.
In addition to performing,
Maria is a dedicated music educator with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas. She has served as the Flute and Chamber Music Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas and also teaches privately in the area. Additionally, Maria is the Education Associate for the Plano Symphony Orchestra and previously served as the Academic Coordinator of Sinfónica Azteca, an innovative music education platform in Mexico designed to promote a new generation of artists with strong musical and leadership skills, connecting them with global networks. Maria has alse worked with the Orchestra of the Americas, and recently was the Artistic Production Coordinator for the OAcademy Residence at the University of Michigan with guest artists Yo-Yo Ma, Kayhan Kalhor, and Carlos Miguel Prieto in June 2024.
Born in Mexico, classical guitarist Noe Garcia is at the forefront of a new generation of guitarists. His warmth and musical sensibility have earned him admiration from audiences both nationwide and abroad. His concert engagements have taken him to Europe, Latin America, and Asia. He has been a guest artist as part of the Camino Artes concert series in Spain, and during the summers of 2017-2019, he toured China with his guitar trio, Trio Resonance, performing in cities such as Qinhuangdao, Jinan, Dalian, Suzhou, and Beijing.
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Noe is a top prize winner in international competitions and has participated in master classes with world-renowned artists including Manuel Barrueco, Pepe Romero, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), and Julio Cesar Oliva.
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Passionate about music education, Noe holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas, where he was awarded a teaching fellowship. He is dedicated to expanding, promoting, and performing music from his home country and Latin America. Noe believes that in our diverse and growing global society, music is a healing medium that can connect us all.
