Paola Marquez is a Latinx Colombian composer, psychologist, and social worker. She earned two Master's Degrees—one in Composition at Syracuse University, where she received the 2008 Heaton Fellowship, and the other in Social Work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she received the 2014 Eleanor Cranefield Scholarship. She works in three professional fields, combining her understanding of each to enrich her work across all of them; as she writes, “My artistic leanings influence my style as a social worker and psychologist, and my passion for social work and psychology influences my music.”

Marquez writes, “My mentors, Jorge Pinzon and Dr. Daniel Godfrey, helped me understand how to use my passion for human psychology as inspiration for my work, creating a unique bridge linking art, music, and social issues.” She has written film, orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal compositions, many of which have been performed in Colombia, Peru, Canada, Italy, Australia, Germany, Poland, Russia, and across the U.S.

Her music has been part of projects such as the Ruth Ellis Center sponsored by Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Syracuse Children's Chorus, Detroit Children's Choir, Tree House Ensemble, Society of New Music (2009–2012), MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir, Lima Symphony Orchestra, University of Michigan en Español concert series, and Boston Unitas Ensemble Orchestra at Mujeres Concert conducted by Lina Gonzalez. She has also collaborated with Piano Spheres, Mizzou New Music Initiative, AURA Contemporary Ensemble, and the New Music of the Americas project presented by Jacobs Music and M. Steinert & Sons.

Marquez has been commissioned by prominent artists including Juilliard violinist Artur Kaganovkiev, Dearborn Symphony conductor Kypros Markou, Mary Opperman, Flutist, Andres Jaramillo, Pianist, Principal Bass of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Robert Nairn, and French filmmaker Boris Wexler for his film Our Fathers.

In recognition of her artistic achievement, Marquez received Honorable Mention at the International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition Competition (2011, Greece), was featured in the album Estampas Americanas by New Music of the Americas (2022), and was a guest composer at Composers Now, founded by Tania León. She has served on panels for Chorus America, AIMS Detroit, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, and the University of Michigan. Her work in music cognition was published in SACCOM (2008), and she is also the author of Mar Azul.

Throughout her career, she has held diverse roles including adjunct professor at Syracuse University, social worker with Say Yes Syracuse and Matrix Head Start in Detroit, educational assistant with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Director of Program and Operations at Detroit Children's Choir, and music assistant for Gabriela Lena Frank’s Musica Mestiza Project. She also served on the board of Intempo Music in Connecticut until 2024.

Currently, Marquez is the founder of the Colombian Women Composers Project, a global digital initiative dedicated to documenting, promoting, and increasing the visibility of Colombian women composers. Additionally, she works as a composer, executive-life coach, and Assistant Director at Michigan State University Community Music School-Detroit. She also serves as a composition faculty member for the Montecito International Music Festival for the 2025 summer season. In each of these roles, she remains deeply committed to expanding access to music education and uplifting underrepresented communities through the arts.