Costa Rican-American flutist Gabriela Vargas is known for her versatility and beautiful tone, which allow her to excel in solo, orchestral, chamber music and studio settings. Recently relocated to Los Angeles, Gaby is in the roster for Hollywood Scoring and the McCallum Theater Orchestra. She spent the last two decades as an active performer in the Chicago area where she was a member of the Chicago Philharmonic and performed frequently with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Her orchestral experience includes performances with the Costa Rican National Symphony, Milwaukee, Quad Cities, Chicago, Oregon Symphony Orchestras, the Youth Orchestra of the Americas and Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Joffrey Ballet, and San Antonio Ballet, under the direction of esteemed conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Sir Andrew Davis, Riccardo Muti, James Gaffigan, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Richard Kaufman, Edo de Waart, Carlos Prieto, and Chosei Komatsu.

Her chamber music experience is extensive and includes performances with renowned classical and new music groups such as The Chicago Ensemble, Access Contemporary Music, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Fifth House Ensemble. She has also performed in ensembles of Brazilian Bossa Nova, Choros and Venezuelan Folk Music.

Gaby has presented recitals at the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Series, Rush Hour Concerts, Harris Theater, Ganz Hall, Curtiss Hall, Candlelight Florianopolis, Foro de Compositores del Caribe, Seminario de Composición Musical, Ear Taxi Festival, Open House Chicago, WoCo Fest, Fresh Voices Festival, Martes por la Noche at Artes Musicales, Costa Rica and most recently the Chamber Connexions CCX Series in San Antonio, TX.

At the age of 19, Gaby won the Young Artist Competition with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, which led to her concerto debut. She premiered Victoria Bond's Concerto for Flute and Wind Ensemble, "Pater Patriae: A Washington Portrait." This notable performance was broadcast live on 98.7WFMT, aired on CAN TV, and was also released by Albany Records in the album "Soul of a Nation." Vargas performed the Chicago premier of Michael Colgrass’ “Wild Riot of the Shaman’s Dreams” for solo flute. As a co-commissioner of The World Sonata Project, she performed the American premier of “Songbird” for flute and piano by Stephanie Ann Boyd . Her live performances have encompassed Central, South and North America, as well as Europe and Japan. 

Ms. Vargas pursued her musical education at the Universidad de Costa Rica (prof. Maria Luisa Meneses), and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she was mentored by distinguished flutists Dionne Jackson, Donald Peck, and Mathieu Dufour. Additionally, she participated in a mentorship program under the guidance of Robert Langevin.

She is also a passionate advocate for integrating strength training and instrumental playing. Gaby recognizes the physical demands of both disciplines, including strength, endurance, and fine motor control. She believes that targeted strength training can enhance posture and stamina, as well as improve cognitive function, ultimately benefiting music performance.