SINGERS:
Christian Arteaga is a DACA recipient born in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. He is a classically trained theatre performer who studied at PCPA in California. He was one of Define American’s 2019 Artist Fellows, and believes in the power of performance and storytelling to create change. Website: actorchristianarteaga.com
Daisy Cardozo (aka Daisy Bravo) is based in Houston, Texas. She received rave reviews for singing Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee” on the Grammy Award-winning jazz album, American Dreamers (2018), featuring DACA artists. She was brought to the U.S. from Venezuela at the age of 9 by her mother–to be at her sister’s side when she was undergoing medical treatment for a tumor–at which point their visas expired.
Marcos Cohen is a singer/songwriter born in Montevideo, Uruguay, who immigrated to Los Angeles in 1997 to become an actor. His first film role was in “The Good Shepherd,” directed by Robert De Niro. Marcos’ debut album was “Diaspora Sur,” and he is currently working on his first Latin Pop album, “Amor en tiempos de Corona.”
Akilah Etienne is a recording artist, actress, and music educator with a B. Mus from the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. She sang the national anthem at her Barclay’s Center graduation, as well as for Bernie Sanders’ 2019 campaign announcement. She was nominated for Best Lead Actress in Sister Act. She is a 2nd generation Haitian & Guyanese American, whose grandmothers immigrated to America as adults.
Isabella Gamez Rocha is a singer and actress. She was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, where she participated in several musical theatre productions and concerts. At the age of 17, she moved to Los Angele to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.
Emanuel Giella, born in Mexico, has lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 years. His music combines genres such as Latin, rap, trap, Middle Eastern and Afro-World Beats. He writes songs in both English and Spanish. After his first album “Unbroken” (2019), he released singles including “My Kind of Night,” featuring Comfort Fedoke, which has garnered over 200,000 views.
Rocío López is a singer, songwriter and actress whose parents are immigrant farmworkers. While attending NYU grad school, she wrote, produced and performed with pop girl group, SHE. Recently, she played the lead role of Della in the revival of Zoot Suit at The Mark Taper Forum in LA. She has acted in the shows Insecure (HBO), Vida (Starz) and Modern Family (ABC).
Pablo Saldana is an LA-based DACA actor and singer-songwriter from Mexico. He is a member of NOSOTROS. After earning a degree in Jazz vocal performance, he sang vocals in 2018 for the jazz album “American Dreamers” that won three Grammy Awards.
Juan Unzueta is an actor and arts administrator in metro Atlanta, Georgia. He is a first-generation American whose parents came to the U.S. from Peru in the early 1970s.
MUSICIANS:
Gideon Broshy (Piano), a New York-based composer and pianist, has performed on NPR and at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall. He writes bright, angular chamber music — often for electric guitars, synthesizers, and drums — and makes interdisciplinary work in media such as installation and dance theater. His parents came to the U.S. from Mexico and Austria.
Mario Gullo (Arrangement) is a composer whose music has been performed by organizations including the NYC Master Chorale and Bridges Vocal Ensemble. He has performed at Alice Tully Hall, City Center, and with Barbara Cook at Carnegie Hall. A graduate of SUNY Fredonia and Bowling Green State University, he is currently studying at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music.
Ching Juhl (Viola) is a Chinese-American violist and filmmaker based in New York. She has appeared in Carnegie Hall, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, and Hong Kong’s Symphony Hall. She has performed with the Grand Teton Music Festival, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Jade String Trio, and toured with Rod Stewart. As a filmmaker, she shot, edited, and produced more than 600 videos (Juhl Media). She taught Music Appreciation at St. Joseph’s College, and currently directs the Music Studio Manhattan.
Adrianna Mateo (Violin) is a solo violinist, singer-songwriter, and actress. She has opened for Alicia Keys, sung on MTV and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, played solo violin at the UN General Assembly (Refugee Orchestra Project), and acted at the Metropolitan Opera. Born in Queens, NY to immigrant parents, she mentors at Face the Music, the Kaufman Center’s pre-college program in Manhattan. www.adriannamateo.com.