Paulina Flores is a SGV native and violist from Altadena, California. She began her musical studies at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music with Rachel Fabulich. During her senior year, she was awarded a generous scholarship to study with the esteemed Donald McInnes at the Idyllwild Arts Academy. Paulina went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance and a Post-Graduate Certificate from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2022, where she studied privately with Yun-Jie Liu and Dimitri Murrath, and orchestral excerpts with Matthew Young. In 2024, she completed her Master of Music in Viola Performance at the University of Southern California under the mentorship of acclaimed violinist and violist Yura Lee.

Paulina has performed with the Charleston Symphony, New World Symphony, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, with whom she appeared in such esteemed venues as the Berlin Philharmonie, the Musikverein, and the Elbphilharmonie. In 2025, she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Charleston Symphony. She has played in masterclasses for Roger Meyers, Caroline Coade, Jonathan Moerschel, Melissa Reardon, Juan-Miguel Hernandez, and Mai Motobuchi, and has performed under the batons of Michael Tilson Thomas, Pinchas Zukerman, Carl St. Clair, JoAnn Falletta, Christian Reif, and Michael Francis. Paulina’s work beyond classical music includes collaborations with Ambrose Akinmusire, Gerald Clayton, Young the Giant, and Shyloom.

Her summer festival appearances include the Endless Mountain Music Festival, Orvieto Musica Chamber Festival in Italy, Festival Napa Valley Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, and the National Repertory Orchestra. In 2023, Paulina was awarded a two-year Orchestral Fellowship with the Charleston Symphony in South Carolina, becoming the first fellow to hold both the Orchestral and Administrative Fellowship positions.

Now based in Pasadena, she maintains a private teaching studio, freelances, and serves as a Teaching Artist for the Pasadena Youth Symphony. Her teaching experience includes leading viola sectionals, teaching group violin classes, and supporting music programs within the Pasadena Unified School District. As a first-generation college graduate, Paulina is dedicated to increasing access to high-quality music education.

She performs on a Douglas Cox viola generously awarded to her by the Virtu Foundation. Outside of music, Paulina enjoys collaging, running, and reading.

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