Associate Professor of Choral Music; Director of Choral Activities
Vocal
The Hartt Schoolcflores@hartford.edu 860.768.4433
Education
DMA, Choral Conducting, The Hartt School, University of Hartford
MM, Piano Performance, The Manhattan School of Music, New York
BM, Piano Performance, The Manhattan School of Music, New York
Degree in Music Education, The Superior Conservatory of Music, Zaragoza
Degree in Piano Pedagogy, The Royal Superior Conservatory of Music, Madrid
Dr. Carolina Flores is Associate Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Activities at The Hartt School, University of Hartford. A native of Spain, Dr. Flores is a nationally recognized choral conductor, educator, clinician, and arts leader. She serves on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) and as National Repertoire & Resources Chair for Two-Year Colleges for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Dr. Flores has held leadership positions within the Connecticut chapter of ACDA including serving as President from 2013 to 2015. She also served on the Board of Choral Arts New England from 2021 to 2024.
An active guest conductor, adjudicator, lecturer, and clinician, Dr. Flores has presented and conducted throughout the United States and has led numerous choral tours across Europe. Her contributions to teaching and music education have been recognized with the MCC Excellence in Teaching Award, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award, and the National Hispanic Heritage MCC Employee Award.
Prior to joining Hartt, Dr. Flores was Professor of Music at CT State Community College Manchester (formerly Manchester Community College), where she led the development of a comprehensive new music curriculum that helped earn national accreditation for the program, making it Connecticut's only nationally accredited two-year music studies program.
Additional teaching appointments include the University of Rhode Island, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Notre Dame High School. She has also served as Assistant Conductor and Accompanist of the New Haven Chorale and Artistic Director of the Pioneer Valley Cappella Choir. She currently serves as Artistic Chorale Director of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale in Connecticut (MSOC).
As a performer, Dr. Flores has sung with Yale Camerata, Yale Pro Musica, Pro Arte Singers, and CONCORA. She has also held numerous church music positions throughout Connecticut and New York, directing choirs of all ages and serving as organist, choir director, and music director. She is currently Minister of Music and Organist at Center Church Congregational in Meriden, Connecticut.
Before focusing her career on choral conducting, Dr. Flores established herself as a pianist and piano pedagogue. A prizewinner in several national and international competitions, she has performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Cami Hall, and Rockefeller Center, and appeared as concerto soloist with the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sixten Ehrling.
Dr. Flores earned degrees in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from the Conservatory of Music in Zaragoza and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid, respectively. She holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from The Hartt School, University of Hartford, where she studied under the distinguished conductor and teacher Dr. Edward Bolkovac, whose mentorship helped shape her artistic and pedagogical approach to choral music.