Maria Torres-Melgares has earned acclaim for her performances marked by "enticing passion and melancholic yearning" (Detroit, 2023) and she is a Spanish saxophonist deeply rooted in her Hispanic heritage, thriving in musical endeavors that connect cultures and nationalities. Currently based in Iowa City, she has received over twenty international prizes in solo and chamber music competitions, including the prize AIE from ACIMC Competition 2023, 1st Prize in the Vandoren Emerging Artists Competition 2022, 1st Prize in the VIII “Concurso Internacional de Saxofone Vitor Santos” (Portugal, 2021), and 1st Prize of the 94th Concours International Léopold Bellan (France, 2020). 

Her debut album, recorded in July 2023 with her chamber group Flieben Duo, is the core of the upcoming documentary "Transatlantic Connection" recorded by DeCara Films, narrating her musical journey and the process of her CD recording. As a soloist, she performed with the Symphonic Band of the Police of Public Security of Portugal, the New World Symphony and the ICC String Orchestra. In addition to performing, she actively contributes to the music business world through her community management internship at the artist management agency Sheldon Artists, assisting artists like Anne-Sophie Mutter, Gidon Kremer and Alondra de la Parra.  

Maria currently serves as the saxophone teaching assistant instructor at the University of Iowa, where she is also pursuing her Doctorate in Musical Arts in saxophone performance, chamber music entrepreneurship and recording engineering. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance and certificates in Arts Entrepreneurship and Leadership, and in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Previously, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the Conservatory of Liceu in Barcelona, Spain.