I was born in Manila, PI. My father is Black/Native American, and my mother is Filipino. We moved to the states when I was three. When I was five years old, I remember watching an episode of Sesame Street. Yo-Yo Ma was the special guest for that episode, and I’ll never forget the moment when he played the opening of Dvorak Cello Concerto for Elmo. That was the moment I decided to play the cello. At age ten, I finally got my wish. I started playing cello in the public school system. Fast forward to 2011, and I found myself in Boston. I was at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee for nine years: four years of undergrad, three years of grad school, and two years in the Artist Diploma program. Within that time, I learned so much about myself, personally and musically. I had amazing teachers like cellists Rhonda Rider and Patrice Jackson, who really inspired and motivated me. Later in my studies, I started exploring styles and genres outside of classical music and it really opened my eyes to the possibilities of music-making. Now as a member of Palaver Strings, I’m able to explore these musical possibilities. The culture within classical music has made many musicians of color feel left out or rejected, like we’re not good enough or welcomed. Everyone at Palaver is so kind, warm, and welcoming. That’s something I’ve rarely experienced in classical music. I can be my most authentic self and express myself fully on a musical and personal level. In my free time, I enjoy being in nature, geeking out on Marvel, DC, powerlifting, martial arts, and dedicating time to my spirituality. I’m an intuitive empath, and study things like the stars, Astrology, Numerology, Tarot, and other spiritual teachings to better understand myself on a deeper level. Deep reflection and being self aware is something I passionately advocate for, and I truly believe that if we can do the work to heal ourselves, we will have the ability to heal others.