Lali Mejía
- Percussion, Vocals
Lali was born in Ciudad Ojeda and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She started her musical training at an early age at the Colegio Bellas Artes (School of Fine Arts) 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 private 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 developing a keen understanding of each beat –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 Jackie has been her closest mentor and greatest source of knowledge.
Lali Mejia specializes primarily in the Afro-Venezuelan Folklore as well as other Latin American styles of music. In addition, she has studied under master percussionists Alexander Livinalli (Venezuela), Edgardo Cambon (Uruguay), Carolyn Brandy (USA) and Jesus Diaz (Cuba). Aside from VMP, Lali has shared the stage as a guest percussionist with Venezuelan musicians such as the VNote Ensemble, Marco Granados, Aquiles Baez, Claudia Calderón, Leo Blanco, Gonzalo Teppa, Grupo Eleggua and Rennea Coutennye.
Among some of her most memorable concerts are the California World Music Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Moab Music Festival, Venezuelan Sounds at the Smithsonian, Brava Theatre and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
