Natalia Romero Arbeláez
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Originally from Colombia, Natalia Romero Arbeláez is an experienced performer, educator and musician. As an educator, she thrives in the intersection of academic and applied music making. She is passionate about access and student voice and ownership in her classroom and performing practices. She performed with the Minnesota Orchestra in December as a member of Border CrosSing in El Mesías, a bilingual Spanish-English holiday performance conducted by Ahmed Anzaldúa. She works as the Upper School choir director at the Blake School where she directs three curricular ensembles and two extra-curricular groups. In addition to teaching, she is an active performer and vocal coach. She has been featured on television as the host of STAGE on TPT and developed corresponding curriculum for PBS Learning Media. As a vocal coach, she has worked with the Guthrie Theater, Teatro del Pueblo and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. She can be found singing with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and with Border CrosSing, where she also directs a bilingual community choir called Heritage Choir. She holds a bachelor of music from St. Olaf College and is currently pursuing a master of music education at the University of St. Thomas.