At 11 years of age, violinist Kevin Michael Mendoza began his studies in the San Antonio  Symphony’s Music Advancement Program. Throughout his upbringing, he was a student of  Sarah Cote, Suzy Perelman, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, and Bassam Nashawati. Mendoza is a  Texas Music Scholar and was a member of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio. In 2005,  Mendoza ranked 10th in state for the T.M.E.A. All-State Symphony Orchestra and received an  Outstanding Performer Award at the U.I.L. Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest. 

Mendoza attended The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he studied performance under  Karen Stiles and Dr. Stephanie Westney. He is a two-time U.T.S.A. Concerto & Aria Competition  winner and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In 2008, Mendoza transferred to The University  of Texas at Austin, where he later received a Bachelor of Music in orchestral violin performance.  

At U.T., Mendoza studied under professors Vincent Fritelli, Brian Lewis, Anne Akiko Meyers,  and Daniel Ching. Mendoza was a New Music Ensemble scholarship recipient and a soloist with  The Bach Cantata Project. In 2009, his quartet was awarded grand prize at The Miró Quartet’s  Intensive String Quartet Seminar & Competition, along with an invite to a side-by-side  performance of the Mendelssohn String Octet, Op.20. During his undergraduate studies,  Mendoza has participated in masterclasses for Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg, Anne Akiko Meyers,  Stephanie Chase, the Chiara Quartet, the Miró Quartet, and the Takács Quartet.  

In 2013, Mendoza relocated to West Hollywood, California. Throughout his time in Los Angeles,  Mendoza served as principal for the “conductor-less” Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, worked  as the Director of Library Operations for the Thomas Metzler Violin Shop, and has appeared live  on NBC’s The Voice as a sideline musician.  

In 2015, Mendoza joined the Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, the world’s first LGBTQ+  ensemble of its kind. Built as a haven for those who identify within the queer community, the  Rainbow Mariachi has gained international recognition through the Los Angeles Times, billboard  magazine, Smithsonian magazine, National Public Radio, and the U.S. Library of Congress.  

Aside from live performances, Mendoza’s recorded studio work includes the albums Christmas  At My Place by Travis Cloer and Los Arcoiris by Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles. Mendoza is  also a featured soloist in the Terrence Malik film To The Wonder, released by Magnolia Pictures.  

Amid his career in the Lone Star State, Mendoza has since performed for the symphonies of San  Antonio, San Angelo, Round Rock, Round Top, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and Victoria, along with  theatre companies including The Josephine, The Vexler, The Brauntex, and The San Pedro  Playhouse. In 2019, Mendoza relocated to San Antonio, where he currently performs with the  Mid-Texas Symphony, Symphony of the Hills, Temple Symphony, and the newly reformed San  Antonio Philharmonic.