Originally from Colombia, Natalia Romero Arbeláez is an experienced performer, educator and musician. As an educator, she thrives in the intersection of contemporary music education and culturally relevant teaching. She is passionate about equity and musical citizenship in her classroom and performing practices. Natalia's strength lies in her ability to connect and engage learners across all settings, although she is particularly fond of teaching teenagers. Natalia works full time as the Choir Director at Harding Senior High School (located in St. Paul, MN) but freelances around the Twin Cities as a soprano and music director with youth theaters. Natalia holds a BM in Music Education from St. Olaf College. She is currently pursuing MA Music Education at the University of Saint Thomas. Natalia is an active performer and can be found singing with Border CrosSing, the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and MPLS - imPulse. Contact: www.naromero.com nata.romero.a@gmail.com 832-920-4450
Lara Mimosa Montes (also known as Lara Rossana Rodriguez ) is an interdisciplinary artist based in the Twin Cities. She holds a PhD in English from The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her poems and essays have appeared in Boston Review , BOMB, Puerto del Sol , RECAPS , & elsewhere. She currently works as a contributing editor for Triple Canopy . Lara has shared and performed her work in places like the Soap Factory, Yeah Maybe, The Poetry Project, Loft Literary Center, and more. Her first book, The Somnambulist , a nocturnal autobiography / mo(u)rning diary, is available from Small Press Distribution and Amazon. She was born in the Bronx.