Meet Maria Alejandra Quintanilla

 

We were lucky to catch up with Maria Alejandra Quintanilla recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria Alejandra, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

My instinct is to say that purpose finds us as we navigate our unique paths, but our ability to recognize it is deeply tied to how well we tune in to ourselves, what we want, and what brings us joy.

I am incredibly fortunate to have always known that creating art through singing is one of my life’s purposes. One of my earliest memories is cradling my little brother in my arms as a child, instinctively improvising a lullaby to soothe him to sleep. That small, intimate moment became one of many that evolved into a lifelong passion for learning, mastering my craft, teaching, and collaborating across various disciplines and mediums.

Purpose, to me, is intimately connected to our ability to flow and adapt—a lifelong process nurtured by how we care for ourselves, body, mind, and spirit, how we overcome challenges or adversity, and how we cultivate a state of focus. For example, I have always admired the way children play. They run with abandon, and when they fall, they simply get back up and continue playing. Giving a piano lesson to a child can be a very different experience from giving a piano lesson to an adult. A child plays a wrong note and keeps going, yet an adult may make two to three remarks before starting over again and again. As we grow older, it’s easy to lose the resilient mentality of youth. Our inner dialogue has much to say and grows louder, often distracting us and wasting precious time. It’s essential to be mindful of the thoughts we entertain and how deliberate we are with our time. Noise is everywhere, and being able to focus is incredibly invaluable. What do you focus on? How long can you hold it?

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As a transdisciplinary auteur, my artistic work is guided by a strong dosage of curiosity, vulnerability, and experimentation while deeply rooted in the emotions and observations of both the world around me and the one within.

Last fall, I released my debut solo project, “Irrefragible Laws,” a multifaceted exploration of the interplay between acoustic and electronic sounds enriched with field recordings, percussion, extended vocal techniques, and spoken poetry. This project weaves elements of jazz, visual art, open improvisation, photography, and contemporary classical music. It’s particularly notable for its versatility and the incredible collaborators who brought it to life—Renato Diz, José Diogo Neves, Pedro Marnoto, and Lizzie Suh. The project is unique because it is both an album and an artbook that pushed me to acquire many new skills despite limited resources. In addition, I am proud to have co-led two other music projects: “Breathing Taiwan” (2017) and “Distance Chemistry” (2016). I cordially invite you to hear all three recordings through Bandcamp!

Now, I am in the post-production phase for four additional recordings, which span solo, duo, and quartet formats. Alongside these creative endeavors, I’m teaching voice privately and at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. I am a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate serving as a Henry Mancini Fellow and Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Jazz Vocal Program. As I enter the final year of my studies, my focus lies on completing my thesis, which explores the application of extended vocal techniques in improvised music, expanding my performance and recording output, and finding more opportunities to grow and collaborate with individuals, organizations, and institutions that value arts and education.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

It’s quite challenging to distill the essence of success into just three qualities or skills, but there are three that I return to time and again.

First, the decision to persevere and keep moving forward while affirming my life and purpose has been profoundly impactful. Knowing my “why” for what I do. This mindset enables me to view the unknown as an opportunity for growth. It helps me navigate challenges more effectively, reminding me that choosing joy is always more energetically efficient than succumbing to chronic stress, complaints, or worry. Consistent self-care practices, such as meditation, exercise, and rest, have been fundamental in building my physical and mental resilience.

Adaptability has also played a pivotal role in my journey. I strive to remain open-minded, flow rather than resist, and extend grace to myself and others. We all have our highs and lows, yet meeting them with flexibility creates opportunities for better outcomes, deeper connections, and continued progress. This is one of the reasons I am so drawn to improvisation as an art form—it encourages me to stay fluid, connect seemingly disparate ideas, and expand my comfort zone.

Cultivating my creative expression has also been central to my sense of purpose. Being disciplined with my practices, regularly creating space to explore, intentionally connecting with the world around me, and expressing myself through art have enriched my life and made me better for those around me. I firmly believe everyone should have the opportunity to seek, discover, and uncover through artistic creation.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I believe it’s essential to strike a balance between maximizing our strengths and developing areas where we lack experience or knowledge. Focusing on our strengths allows us to excel and fully leverage our unique talents while working on our weaker areas ensures we become more well-rounded and adaptable in unexpected situations.

As a vocalist, I am deeply fascinated by vocal technique and healthy practices. This is a central aspect of my work and study. I also love applying those skills to new genres or formats with people I’ve never worked with. Vocal technique is something I am fascinated by and lean on with confidence. Applying it in unfamiliar scenarios deepens my understanding and appreciation of this craft and how it can evolve and inspire other fields.

In a world that often emphasizes hyper-specialization, there is tremendous value in embracing diversity and play in our skills and approaches. By blending the two, we cultivate a richer, more versatile approach to life and work, and that’s extraordinary.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Sammy Yonjai Sohn, Pedro Marnoto, Edin Chavez

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