Gloria Stephanie Àlvarez Avendaño is a musician, educator, adventurer, space holder, and creative soul. Originally from Mexico City, Stephanie came to the U.S. and earned a B.S. in Marketing from San Francisco State University. Her love of music drew her back to school to pursue an A.A. in Music at Contra Costa College and an M.A. in Choral Music at Cal State East Bay.

While completing her M.A. and searching for practical experience, Stephanie volunteered to help the band director with teaching choir at De Anza High School in Richmond. A few years later, she became a full-time teacher. She directed a thriving and dynamic growing choir program from 2017 to 2024.

During her tenure at De Anza High School her choirs performed at the 2023 Swearing-In Ceremony for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, at the 2023 Annual Breaking Bread Concert with the Oakland Symphony and Oakland Symphony Chorus, at the 2021 Annual Contra Costa Chorale Winter Concert. Furthermore, a group of the choir members were selected to participate in the 2022 California All State Music Education Conference Honors Choirs.

On August 2024, she began her tenure as choir director at Napa High School in Napa, California. (www.napachoir.org)

She is the recipient of the 2023 California Music Educators Association Bay Section Outstanding Choral Educator Award and 2023 California Choral Directors Association Early Career Conductor of the Year.

Her music mentors include Dr. Stephanie Austin, Dr. Buddy James, Dr. Danielle Gaudry, Jennifer Griest, Wayne Organ, John Montanero, Pamela Hicks and Mon de León.

In her personal life, she enjoys traveling every moment she can. She is committed to learning and integrating indigenous and ancestral practices that help her decolonize herself and her community.