Lali Mejía
- Percussion, Vocals
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, she started her musical training at an early age at the “Colegio Bellas Artes” in Maracaibo. As a 5th grader, she was taught how to read music and play the recorder, advancing into Cuatro studies and the school's choir during early high school. At the age of 12 she began classical guitar lessons for several years before moving to the United States to pursue her BFA degree in Graphic Design.
During her 20's Lali became a house music DJ in San Francisco where she spun records for many clubs and venues in the Bay Area. Her time as a DJ trained her in a very special way, solidifying her sense of tempo and space–all essential tools of any percussionist.
Lali formally began her percussion studies in the year 2000 under Jackeline Rago who inspired and encouraged her to take on this magnificent discipline. Since then, Jackeline has been her closest mentor and greatest source of knowledge.
Lali Mejía specializes primarily in the Afro-Venezuelan Folklore as well as other Latin American styles of music. She is a permanent band member of the Venezuelan Music Project (Venezuelan Folk music) and The VNote Ensemble (a fusion of jazz and Venezuelan music) and has shared the stage with wonderful musicians such as Marco Granados, Aquiles Baez, Maria Volonté, Claudia Calderón, Leo Blanco and Grupo Eleggua.
Since 2004, Lali has helped facilitate many Afro-Venezuelan workshops around the US, and is a guest instructor for the “Born to Drum” summer camp in Northern California.
Among some of her most memorable concerts are the Lincoln Center Out of Doors, San Francisco Jazz Festival, California World Music Fest, Monterey Jazz Festival, Moab Music Festival, Esalen Music and Arts Festival, Venezuelan Sounds at the Smithsonian and the Yerba Buena Gardens Music Festival.
