BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Toni Cortez-Aguilar, a seasoned classical flutist in Southern California, embarked on her musical journey in San Diego Unified schools. As a young flutist, performance opportunities at San Diego's very own Spreckles Theater, Copley Symphony Hall, and the original Jack Murphy Stadium, were pivotal in Toni’s desire to perform. This led to college music scholarships and performances throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Science with an emphasis in student affairs in higher education from Colorado State University, Toni is not only a skilled musician but also a dedicated advocate for marginalized composers. Her performances reflect her commitment to exploring intersectional identities through music. After a hiatus from the music scene, Toni is fervently working on rekindling her career. A founding member of Connessa Collective, she has achieved acclaim as a finalist in the Chamber Music category at The American Prize (2021), a selected performer at the 2023 National Flute Association, and a finalist at the London Classical Music Competition (2024). Beyond accolades, Toni sees music as a powerful medium for community connection.

Valerie McElroy is a flutist, educator, music arranger and multi-instrumentalist who has traversed the world of music in her teaching and performance. In addition to co-founding Connessa Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting world music by living composers, she is founder and director of VM Studio, a private music education studio. Valerie is a regular performer with San Diego-based professional chamber ensembles Connessa (2024 Finalists in Chamber Music, London Classical Music Competition; 2021 Finalists in Chamber Music, The American Prize) and Flûtes de Salon (NFA Convention Performers, 2022).

A sought-after soloist, flute clinician and collaborator, Valerie is a conductor for two San Diego Youth Symphony ensembles, directs the Villa Musica Flute Ensemble and formerly served on the board of directors of the San Diego Flute Guild. Her original composition, Journey Chalan for Flute Quartet, was successfully world premiered at the 2023 National Flute Association Convention. A Chicago native, Valerie studied at DePaul University with renowned flutists Mary Stolper, Hideko Amano and Jennifer Clippert and has since worked with hundreds of music students in her educational career. Her pedagogy is centered around the development of the whole musician. 

Cindy Anne Broz  (BA Flute Performance, Univ. of Utah) has established a career as a free-lance musician performing as a soloist, in chamber ensembles, and orchestras throughout Southern California. An active theater musician, she has played at San Diego’s leading venues including The Old Globe Theater (where she performed in the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods), the La Jolla Playhouse, and the San Diego Civic Center. She served as principal flutist with the California Consort Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Classics4Kids Philharmonic, and the Pacific Lyric Opera Company.

Cindy is the founding member of The WindSong Consort (mixed winds/wind quintet) and Flûtes de Salon (professional flute ensemble). ​Also a recitalist and presenter on the East Coast, Ms. Broz has appeared as a soloist and clinician in the Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Maine, and Washington D.C. regions, and is a frequent presenter at flute festivals and conventions for organizations including the National Flute Association, the Flute Society of Washington (Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention), the San Diego Flute Guild, the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia, and the Greater Los Angeles Flute Society.