Ahmed Fernando Anzaldúa El Samkary
Artistic Director

Ahmed Fernando Anzaldúa El Samkary is a Mexican conductor and pianist of Egyptian descent. Early in his career, he was the awarded the first prize at the Maria Clara Cullel International Piano Competition. He’s since then avoided participating in competitions in favor of championing the works of new composers and exploring his musical heritage. Ahmed is a recognized authority in Latin American and Spanish music, particularly the compositions of Federico Mompou and Miguel Bernal Jiménez. He regularly collaborates with composers to premiere new works, including Helmut Lachenmann, Paul Lansky, and Arturo Marquez. His most recent recordings include Carteles, recorded for FMM, and Contemplating Weather, on Bridge Records. Ahmed holds Master’s degrees in Piano Performance and Choral Conducting from Western Michigan University, where he taught before moving to Minnesota, and carried out postgraduate work at the Queen Sofia College of Music in Madrid, Spain. He received a doctorate in Music Conducting at the University of Minnesota, under the mentorship of Kathy Romey. Apart from his work with Border CrosSing, he is co-editor of the Justice Choir Songbook and is Director of Music Ministries at Unity Church – Unitarian in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Natalia Romero Arbeláez
Education and Community Engagement Director

Originally from Colombia, Natalia Romero Arbeláez is an experienced performer, educator and musician. As an educator, she thrives in the intersection of contemporary music education and culturally relevant teaching. She is passionate about equity and musical citizenship in her classroom and performing practices.

Natalia’s strength lies in her ability to connect and engage learners across all settings, although she is particularly fond of working with and learning from teenagers.

Natalia works as the high school choir director at the Blake School where she directs three curricular ensembles and two extra-curricular groups. Before that, she taught choir, piano and EL world music at Harding High School in St. Paul.

Natalia is an active performer and vocal coach. As a coach, she has worked with the Guthrie Theater, Ashland Productions, and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. She can be found singing with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and Border CrosSing, where she also directs a bilingual community choir called Heritage Choir.

Natalia holds a Bachelor of Music from Saint Olaf College and a Master of Music Education at the University of Saint Thomas.

Matthew Valverde
Executive Director

We are delighted to announce Matthew Valverde as Border CrosSing’s first Executive Director!

Matthew will work closely with the Board of Directors and Artistic Directors to raise funds and manage programs that integrate historically-segregated artists and audiences through the performance of choral music. As a key leader in the organization, Matthew will develop staff and volunteers, growing our capacity while ensuring just, equitable, and inclusive working practices.

Matthew joins us after a decade teaching in higher education, recently serving as tenured Associate Professor of Music and Project Director for a U.S. Department of Education Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Title V grant at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. There he was appointed Inclusive Excellence Liaison to the university’s President, chaired the Equity Board, served on the President’s Cabinet and Faculty Senate, and championed equity and inclusion efforts across campus. As a performer, he has been heard as soloist in recitals, concerts, and operas in New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, Indiana, New Mexico, and Texas. Matthew is on the voice faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp, was awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and a master’s degree in vocal performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music, and holds degrees in music and biology from Texas Christian University.

You can reach Matthew at mvalverde@bordercrossingmn.org.

Alyssa Anderson
Operations Coordinator

Mezzo-soprano Alyssa Anderson’s vocal repertoire spans the ages from Baroque masterpieces to contemporary experimental music, with a focus on American and twentieth/twenty-first-century artsong and chamber music.

A native of Falconer, NY, Alyssa received her BM in Vocal Performance summa cum laude from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, and she completed her MM in Performance summa cum laude at the University of Minnesota. She was recently awarded the Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota for her thesis on the solo vocal music of American composer Henry Cowell and a recital performance of a number of his unpublished, and virtually unknown, songs for voice and piano.

In 2010, Alyssa and guitarist Joseph Spoelstra formed a classical voice/guitar duo, the dream songs project. They can be heard in a number of venues in Madison, WI, the Twin Cities, and a variety of other areas in the Upper Midwest. Their debut CD of songs by Mauro Giuliani was released in 2012. Through generous grants from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and their many donors, TDSP has commissioned and premiered ten major works for the ensemble.

Alyssa can be found singing with Border CrosSing and has been an integral part of our organization since she joined our administrative team in 2019.