Lila

Lila (LEE-LAH), the essence of love, good, creativity, strength, and imagination.
Lila is a seasoned, professional multi-instrumentalist whose dedication to her craft is shown through her musical expression, compositions, and enthusiastic performances. Her primary instrument is the violin and her mastery of the instrument’s intricacies gives her the innate ability to touch the heart, soul, and spirit of her listeners.
While at Georgetown University, Lila was selected out of a nationwide audition to participate in the New York String Seminar Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to be mentored by Maestro Emeritus Alexander Schneider and Maestro Isaac Stern. Through consortium, she went on to become a founding member of The Howard University String Quartet, and a student at The Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. After participating in classical performances at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, Lila felt a strong desire to explore different musical genres including jazz, blues, rock, reggae, soul, Afro-Cuban, Latin, and hip-hop.
Following numerous musical achievements, Lila returned to Washington, DC where she founded her first performing arts company through which she made the performing arts accessible and affordable to children from underserved communities in the greater Washington area. In 2001, she relocated her performing arts company to her hometown of Memphis, TN, partnered with The Memphis Area Youth Association, and began training students in the Whitehaven area through donated space inside of Bishop Byrne High School. Within months, Lila’s students were coming to Whitehaven from areas as far as Bartlett, Germantown, Midtown, East Memphis, Hickory Hill, West Memphis, Arkansas, and Southaven, Mississippi.
Within the last two years, Lila has performed in numerous venues locally and nationally including the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, Downtown Alive Fall Concert Series, Court Square Summer Music Series, Hattiloo Theater Block Party, Orleans Restaurant, The Women’s Foundation of Memphis Annual Luncheon, Hard Rock Café Memphis, The Levitt Shell at Overton Park, Cossitt Library Lunchtime Music Series, The Ornamental Metal Museum, The California Music Fest, and The Organization of Black Airline Pilots Convention in Atlanta. She was also featured in SKIRT Magazine in the “Women to Watch” issue and invited to perform at the Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival.
Currently, Lila’s outreach teaching programs thrive in the heart of the artistically underserved communities of Memphis. She strives hard to fulfill her mission of exposing young people to the arts who would not otherwise have access to music and dance education. In doing so, Lila has created numerous life-changing performance opportunities for her students. She and her students have presented over 20 recitals and performances. They have also accepted invitations and performed at The Whitehaven Jazz Festival, The Marvin Gaye Tribute at The Gibson Guitar Lounge, The Marvin Gaye Tribute at The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at The National Civil Rights Museum, The Cooper-Young Festival, The “Generation Next” Youth Music Festival at Handy Park on Beale Street and at Hard Rock Cafe Memphis, Disney’s A Christmas Carol promotional train tour stop in Memphis, and numerous community performances at libraries, nursing homes, and children’s events.
At present, Lila is a newly appointed Board Member of The Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission and was named by The Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s Memphis Crossroads magazine as one of twenty artists who are defining Memphis. Her most recent performances include The Checkerboard Lounge Jam Session in Chicago, IL and The Featured Opening Act of The National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards honoring Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams. Lila believes that “image is everything” and through music, we can embrace and appreciate the sharing of diverse cultures. She has formed a classical quintet with some of her advanced students who give an exciting approach to classical music. Lila and her student ensemble have a wealth of performing experience, an outstanding stage presence, and a captivating repertoire of music that they present to audiences. Released earlier this year, The Blue Violin, her first CD, has received rave reviews.

For Booking information, please contact Lila via email at lilaviolin@gmail.com . Bookings may include a music educational workshop in the community where applicable.

Website: www.musicbylila.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lilaviolin