Stephanie Valadez (she/ella) is a dual-national musician and scholar based in California and Mexico City. She is currently a PhD student in Ethnomusicology at UCLA, serves as the University of California Graduate and Professional Student Council, is the Executive Director of Xicameri Productions, and maintains a private teaching studio. Valadez holds a Master of Arts in Music (Cross-Cultural Musicology) from the University of California, Santa Cruz, two Masters of Music degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in Music Composition and Music Performance: Marimba, and a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts: Music from Saint Mary’s College of California.
Mrs. Valadez is a Cota-Robles Fellow, UCSC Arts Research Institute Fellow, and an ARI Summer Pathways Fellow. Her fieldwork research is also supported by UC Alianza MX. Mrs. Valadez was awarded Best Presentation of the Art Division at the 2024 UCSC Grad Symposium for her paper, (Mis)translation and Appropriation: Indigenous Resilience in Colonial Reverberations.
In addition to her academic work Mrs. Valadez is passionate about advocacy and service through her involvement in 501(c)3 non-profits University of California Graduate & Professional Students where she serves as the President of the Board of Directors and Xicameri Productions where she serves as the Executive Artistic Director. UCGPC serves as the official advocates of the Graduate and Professional Students of the University of California system. Xicameri Productions uplifts the voices of under-represented communities and promotes justice and equal opportunity through its thought-provoking music and dance. She enjoys collaborative and multidisciplinary work, and works as a composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist.
Mrs. Valadez teaches marimba, piano, and ukulele privately and is an Education Artist for Marimba One. She enjoys performing on her Marimba One Izzy marimba. In her free time she practices danza in the Mexica community of Mexico City, she sings and plays Mariachi music on vihuela, and enjoys creating children’s books in Nahuatl for her two sons as part of her commitment to decolonial parenting practices.
EDUCATION
Current – PhD. in Ethnomusicology: University of California, Los Angeles
2025 M.A in Music (Cross-Cultural Musicology): University of California, Santa Cruz
2021 – Diploma in Performing Arts: Escuela de Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández
2015 – M.M. in Marimba Performance: San Francisco Conservatory of Music
2014 – M.M. in Composition: San Francisco Conservatory of Music
2012 – B.A. in Performing Arts: Music Composition: Saint Mary’s College
HONORS/AWARDS
2025-30 – University of California, Los Angeles Cota-Robles Fellow
2023-25 – University of California, Santa Cruz Cota-Robles Fellow
2024 – UC Alianza MX – Short Term Research in Mexico Award
2024 – “Best Presentation of the Arts Division” at UC Santa Cruz Graduate Symposium
2023-24 – University of California, Santa Cruz Arts Research Institute Fellow
2023-2024 – University of California, Santa Cruz Arts Dean’s Student Leadership Board
2023 – University of California Regents Fellow
2023 – University of California, Santa Cruz University of the Future NOW Award
2015-current – MarimbaOne Education Artist
2015 – Zeltsman Marimba Festival Showcase Artist
2014-2015 – San Francisco Conservatory of Music Scholarship – Percussion
2012-2014 – San Francisco Conservatory of Music Scholarship – Composition
2012 – Commencement Speaker for Saint Mary’s College Latino Graduation Ceremony
2011 – Saint Mary’s College Professional Development Award – used to study in Mexico.
2009-2010 – California State University, East Bay Music Department Scholarship- Oboe
2009 – California State University, East Bay Glenn Glasow Fellowship Commission
2009 – Drum Corps International Open Class Champion – Blue Devils ‘B’ Corps
2008 – Sweet Adelines International Regional Finalist – Pride of the Pacific
2008 – Drum Corps International I&E Competition Finalist
2008 – Winterguard International World Class Finalist – Freelancers Drumline
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
2025 – “Tenanan” – Produced by Xicameri Productions, creative team: Stephanie Valadez, Russell C. Rodriguez, and Malena Vega. Additional performers included Ricky Lomelí, Benjamin Carson, Alexandra Stokes, Aron Chang, Wesley Somers, Felicita Luna, and Belen Fuentes.
2021 – “This Is Not Our Home” – Produced by Xicameri Productions, composed by Stephanie Valadez, arr. Nicolas Lell Benavides, choreographed by Stephanie Tobon, Claire Calalo Berry, and Dana Lawton. Recorded by ad hoc ensemble.
2017 – “Transcontinental Sodade” Xicameri Marimba Duo with Warren Wolf and Diego Becerra.
2015 – “Drumming” (Steve Reich) performed percussion at the Switchboard Music Festival. San Francisco Contemporary Music Players – Steve Schick, director.
2014 – “Tren del Fin del Mundo” – Commissioned by Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra.
2014 – “Silence” – In collaboration with Dana Lawton Dances. Performed at the Hot Air Music Festival, San Francisco International Arts Festival, and Latham Square.
2014 – “Branches” and “Inlets” (John Cage), performed percussion for San Francisco Symphony’s SF SoundBox opening, Michael Tilson Thomas, artistic director
2013 – “Marimba Concerto for Marimba and Winds” – Commissioned by the Diablo Wind Symphony, Jack Van Geem, soloist. Performances: Lesher Center for the Arts, Sol Joseph Recital Hall, DVC Performing Arts Theatre.
2013 – “Palomita: Nueva Canción” Xicameri Marimba Duo performed at Sol Joseph Recital Hall (San Francisco), Zeltsman Marimba Festival (New Brunswick, NJ), Morris Graves Museum of Art (Humbolt), and the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center.
2011 – “El Último Suspiro” – Premiered by members of the San Francisco Symphony, performed by Jupiter Chamber Players, and toured by Dana Lawton Dances through California and Belfast, Ireland.
Stephanie Valadez, M.M. 