Teaching youth, mentoring and pursuing my music career.
I was awarded the San Jose Jazz, Jazz Aid fund grant in 2022 and have had the privilege of performing my first solo show at the San Jose Jazz break room in 2022
Immensely. OSA was the place where I grew up, and found out a lot about myself as an artist and as an individual. A lot of the lessons and skills I learned at OSA I still use to this day and I am in touch with many of my teachers and directors from OSA because of the impact they had on me as a child.
I see it as a badge of honor. Oakland is changing more and more everyday but when I was growing up and going to OSA, I was proud to be in the heart of Oakland where everything was happening. I could see my instructors perform and be around my community in the same place, it’s truly one of a kind and I’m blessed to have grown up here.
That’s really hard. I would say one of the founders memories I have is what I believe was my Sophomore year Vocal Spring Show performance on the Fox theater stage. I sang “Baki Dele” by Asa and it’s still one of the most formative moments for me as an artist. The response from not only the audience, but Cava Menzies who was playing with me, was one I will never forget.
Vocal Rush, but the Vocal dept in general. I felt very well taken care of by the staff and the students in this emphasis and even tho I wasn’t always the most popular kid, I was always able to speak with my teachers and learn more from them and being in a place where I could do what I loved(singing), made it that much more special.
