In-Person Residencies
For a residency, I have a standard rate of $1,250 US per day, of up to six hours of engagement per day, plus the costs of travel and lodging. These fees are negotiable. There is a wide range of activities I have performed in past residencies. See my past engagements below to give you an idea of the type of work of which a residency consists.
Virtual Visits
For a classroom or rehearsal visit, whether in person or via Zoom, my rate is on a sliding scale $250-$500 US per hour. Through these visits, I offer services similar to what I would offer in a residency but on a smaller scale, e.g., a clinic, a presentation, or a talk with Q&A.
Past Engagements
Composer-in-Residence
Open Space New Music Festival, the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, March 2025
visited composition studio class to speak on my career as a composer and on how to find collaborators; visited music business class to discuss performance rights organizations, commissions, contracts, music publishing, and licensing; co-taught nine private composition lessons to students, undergraduate through graduate; workshopped choirs, the new music ensemble, and faculty artists on nine original works to be performed in the festival recital; and introduced my works in the festival recital
Composer-in-Residence
New American Composers Series, Seattle Pro Musica and Seattle-Area Public Schools, Seattle, Washington, March 2025
visited Evergreen and Jane Addams Middle Schools to speak on my career as a composer; workshopped Lincoln High School and Seattle Girls Chorus on an original work; arranged and rehearsed a short original work at Ballard High School; taught a Mexican folk song to seven classes at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School; clinicked Seattle Pro Musica on five original works including a commissioned original work to be premiered; and participated in pre-concert talks, hosted by artistic director Karen P. Thomas, with poet Amir Rabiyah
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; and 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, Angelo State University, 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