PERFORMANCE AS AN ARTFORM

Performing musicians are more than individuals who execute notes on a paper. They are artists who make active decisions on how to interpret a musical idea on their instruments and/or voices in order to convey a message that will potentially move their audience and take them on a journey through varying passages of a piece of music. 

Abe (AbeNYC2) - singer, songwriter, guitarist

"Singer songwriter puts his heart and soul into every lyric and melody. Born and raised in The Bronx the Yemeni-American artist tells stories with his music, passionate and intense vocals. The up and coming New York artist’s dreams to make music his full time job and tour the world with his songs" - Spotify artist biography

Abe is a signed artist to Odeto.co, a female-run company that offers label services, management and project-based consulting.
Abe (along with local community musicians Michael Johansson on bass with Anthony Duran on drums)
​improvising Poly students' songwriting submissions (Fall, 2022)

jessica brizuela - music therapist, harpist, vocalist/rapper

"Jessica Brizuela, MT-BC is a harpist, Board Certified Music Therapist, and Certified Neurologic Music Therapist from Southern California. Graduating from Berklee College of Music, Jessica has joined a new harp generation trained not only in classical but also jazz, latin, and other contemporary styles. Upon graduating, Jessica continued her studies at Azusa Pacific University majoring in harp performance.

With her unique background as a cultured harpist, Jessica has performed in a variety of places such as Boston Symphony Hall, The American Harp Society National events, France at the Festival international de harpe Camac, and in Hollywood for the NALIP Latino Media Awards where she was featured performer showcasing her original music.

​As a Board Certified Music Therapist, Jessica believes that the harp is an instrument perfectly suited for helping and healing others. Jessica has worked in a variety of populations including geriatrics, psychiatrics, pediatrics, special needs, and medical settings. Jessica's compassion and empathy shines through her work, making her a great person to work with for your event whether it be a wedding or memorial service, she will make sure the addition of a harp to your event be special." -​TheBash.com
Student trying Jessica's harp (2021 Summer STREAM program)
Mr Coronel trying Jessica's harp (2021 Summer STREAM program)
Jessica showing Poly students how to play the harp (Fall, 2021)
Jessica performing for Poly students (Spring, 2022)
Jessica performing for Poly students (Fall, 2022)

mikaiah lei (the bots) - singer, songwriter, guitarist

"For the better part of the past 12 years, Mikaiah Lei of The Bots has spent his adolescence in the spotlight. The Bots released two studio albums, toured around the world, landed glossy magazine spreads, and performed live everywhere from Coachella to Glastonbury in that time.

​Lei was just 21 years old the last time The Bots put out an album, 2014’s Pink Palms. Now, after seven transformative years, Lei has a brand new outlook on life and himself — and he’s got the remarkable new album 2 Seater to show for it. 2 Seater out now on Big Indie Records. Written by Mikaiah Lei and Produced by Adrian Quesada at Electric Deluxe studios in Austin, TX." - Spotify

Mikaiah is a graduate of Glendale High School and was involved in his school's music program. The Bots have performed at ​Coachella, NPR Tiny Desk Concert Series and SXSW. Their songs has several million streams.
The Bots performing "Girl Problems" for Poly students in March, 2022

tarik (Nishwakie)- SINGER, SONGWRITER
​Noh - rapper, songwriter

Tarik Nishwakie Lord hails from St Lucia, an Eastern Caribbean island nation. After immigrating to the US in his early teens, Tarik attended El Camino Real Charter High School in Los Angeles. Later on, Tarik would form a band with his musician friends and won Cal State University Northridge's Artist of the Year title under their student-run record label, VOVE in 2022. After being introduced to rapper Noah (stage name Noh), both Tarik and Noah would collaborate often on many songs together.
(Left to right) Tarik Nishwakie (vocalist), Noah (rapper), and Quincy Holland (drummer)
Setting music to students' lyrics written about a select video
NISHWAKIE
NOH

Selene Fernandez - singer, songwriter, pianist

Selene Fernandez is a Peruvian-American musician who can perform a variety of genres including Latin, Opera, Jazz, Choral and Liturgical music in several languages. She is a vocalist, songwriter, keyboardist and keytarist. She is a long-time resident of the city of her birthplace which is in Montebello, California. Selene was discovered to have a gift of being an artist at a young age. Therefore at around the age of five, Selene began to sing with a volunteer choir from a Lutheran Church her father used to work at. 

Selene performs at whichever place is in need of live music no matter the situation with the purpose to fulfill others with music. She performs at a variety of restaurants, private events, fundraising/charity events, golf clubs and church masses/services such as funerals, weddings, and quinceañeras for a variety of religions. Some of Selene’s original music can be heard on online music platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. Selene as of today continues to work as a freelance musician by herself, with her keyboardist father, and other bands. She also currently works as a liturgical musician for the Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary in the San Fernando Valley and St. Jude Catholic Church of Norwalk, CA. 
​
Selene attained an Associates in Music from East Los Angeles College. Selene also attained a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in California State University Long Beach and has recently attained her degree of Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration in California State University Northridge. 
Selene performing for students (2022)
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