Dr. Paulina Villarreal is a versatile internationally recognized mezzo-soprano whose career spans opera, concert, musical theatre, and Latin American vocal traditions. Known for her powerful stage presence and expressive musicality, she has performed with distinguished companies and orchestras including Opera Saratoga, Cincinnati Opera, the Boston Pops, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Opera Memphis, Opera Fusion: New Works, and the Tanglewood Music Center. Equally at home in standard operatic repertoire and contemporary or underrepresented works, Villarreal is recognized for her vocal depth, interpretive insight, and stylistic versatility.

Career highlights include her portrayal of the title role in Carmen, the world premiere of Mango Suite with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and Simply Sondheim: Stephen Sondheim’s 85th Birthday Celebration with the Boston Pops. She has also appeared with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Opera Steamboat, Cincinnati Song Initiative, and frequently performs recitals focused on Latin American art song, zarzuela, and the music of Mexican composer María Grever.

In parallel with her performance career, Dr. Villarreal is a dedicated educator and thought leader in voice pedagogy. She is currently an Assistant professor of voice at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and serves on the voice faculty of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and as a visiting professor at the Universidad de Panamá. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Cantos para el Mundo, a concert series in Northern Mexico devoted to celebrating classical vocal music from diverse cultural perspectives.

Dr. Villarreal previously held academic appointments as Coordinator of Vocal Studies at the University of Memphis, Chair of Vocal Studies at Centenary College of Louisiana, and faculty positions at Millikin University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she earned her doctorate. Her students have earned recognition on national stages and in competitive young artist programs such as Opera Memphis, Teatro Nuovo, Ohio Light Opera, Union Avenue Opera, and have been accepted into top institutions including the University of Cincinnati, New York University, Indiana University, and DePaul University.

A passionate advocate for Latin American and Iberian repertoire, Dr. Villarreal is regularly invited as a masterclass clinician and lecturer by the National Opera Association (NOA), National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Classical Singer Convention (CSC), College Music Society (CMS), and institutions across the Americas, including Cuba’s Universidad de las Artes and the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. She is a proud recipient of the Yamaha Corporation's Excellence in Music Education Award.