Check Out Paola Marquez-Smith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola Marquez-Smith

Hi Paola, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi, my name is Paola Marquez-Smith, a Colombian composer, psychologist, and social worker with roots deeply set in the intersection of music, psychology, and community impact. My journey has been shaped by a passion for understanding people and expressing that understanding through music. I’ve often felt that each of my pursuits influences others in a meaningful way. As I often say, *“My artistic leanings influence my style as a social worker and psychologist, and my passion for social work and psychology influence my music.”* This interconnection has become my compass.

I pursued my first Master’s degree in Composition at Syracuse University, where I was fortunate to receive the 2008 Heaton Fellowship. Syracuse provided me with incredible mentors like Jorge Pinzon and Dr. Daniel Godfrey, who showed me how to bring my fascination with human psychology into my compositions, bridging art, music, and social issues. Later, I went on to earn a second Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where I was awarded the Eleanor Cranefield Scholarship in 2014.

My work spans film, orchestral, chamber, choir, and vocal compositions, with performances in cities across Colombia, Canada, Australia, Italy and the U.S. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of working on projects for the Ruth Ellis Center, the Syracuse Children’s Chorus, the Detroit Children’s Choir, Tree House Ensemble, and the Society for New Music from 2009 to 2012. My music has reached audiences through collaborations with the MUSE Cincinnati Women’s Choir, the Lima Symphony Orchestra, the University of Michigan en Español concert series, and the Boston Unitas Ensemble Orchestra at the *Mujeres Concert* under the baton of Lina Gonzalez. I have also had the privilege of creating commissioned pieces for Juilliard violinist Artur Kaganovkiev, Kypros Markou of the Dearborn Symphony, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s Principal Bass Robert Nairn, and French filmmaker Boris Wexler for his film *Our Fathers*.

I was honored with an Honorable Mention at the 2011 International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition in Greece. In 2022, New Music of the Americas selected me to contribute to their album Estampas Americanas. Another recent highlight was being invited as a composer for Piano Spheres, a Resident Composer at the University of Missouri, and a guest composer for Composers Now, founded by Tania Leon. I’ve also served on panels for organizations like Chorus America, AIMS Detroit, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, and the University of Michigan. My research in Music Cognition has been published in SACCOM (2008), and I’ve written a book titled Mar Azul, which further explores my reflections on music, culture, and life.

Throughout my career, I’ve found meaning in serving communities through music and education. I’ve taught as an adjunct professor at Syracuse University, worked as a social worker with Say Yes Syracuse, Imagine Syracuse, and Matrix Head Start in Detroit, and was an education assistant with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. I also served as the Director of Program and Operations at the Detroit Children’s Choir and as a music assistant for the Musica Mestiza Project led by composer Gabriela Frank.

Today, I balance my life between composing, executive-life coaching, and community work as an Assistant Director at Michigan State University Community Music School-Detroit. My goal is to help people find the courage to create their most authentic lives and create programs that expand music’s reach in urban communities and continue promoting music education, hoping to inspire a new generation with the same passion for music and community that has shaped my own journey.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any journey, there have been challenges along the way that offered valuable opportunities for growth. Early on, I faced bias from a few individuals who didn’t believe in women as composers. This experience, however, fueled my determination to stay focused on my goals and deepen my commitment to my music. Additionally, like many who choose to build a new life in a different country, I encountered the typical challenges of adjusting to a new place—feeling a lack of personal history in my new home and experiencing initial homesickness. Yet, by staying open and resilient, I was able to find a new family and create a sense of belonging here.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Latinx composer, psychologist, social worker, arts administrator, and executive coach, creating music and programs that connect deeply with the human experience and champion social change. My work spans multiple fields, allowing me to bring a unique, multidisciplinary approach to everything I do. As a composer, I specialize in blending my understanding of psychology and social work into my music, creating pieces that resonate with emotional authenticity and address societal issues. My mentors helped me channel my passion for human psychology into my compositions, which has become a defining aspect of my style.
Beyond my music, I’m deeply invested in arts administration and executive coaching. I’ve had the privilege of developing programs that expand access to the arts in underserved communities and working with schools and organizations to create opportunities for young musicians. My role as an executive coach allows me to support individuals in aligning their personal and professional goals, helping them navigate challenges and unlock their full potential.
What I’m most proud of is the way my work bridges cultures and speaks to diverse audiences. My compositions have been performed internationally, and I’ve collaborated with ensembles, orchestras, and artists across the U.S., Colombia, Canada, Italy, and Australia. This multicultural perspective allows me to use both music and leadership to foster positive change. Whether through composing, teaching, or coaching, I am dedicated to creating spaces where art, community, and empowerment intersect.
Each piece I create and each program I lead is not only a reflection of my personal mission and journey but also a call to connect, uplift, and inspire. It is a privilege to contribute my voice to the arts, championing resilience, diversity, and transformation across all the fields I work in.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
A quality I consider essential to my success is resilience. Navigating multiple fields—music, social work, psychology, and arts administration—has required me to remain adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges. From overcoming bias as a woman in composition to establishing a new home and professional community, resilience has kept me grounded and focused on my goals. It has allowed me to stay open to new opportunities, learn from setbacks, and continue growing personally and professionally. This resilience is the foundation of my journey and has helped me stay true to my passion for connecting people through music and social change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pmarquezmusic.com/