Kyla Danysh is a Berkeley native who has been playing violin for twenty-five years. She grew up studying classical and Klezmer music, and discovered her passion for improvisation through the exploration of Son Jarocho, Son Huasteco, boleros, "gypsy jazz", and Balkan music. She has since traveled to Veracruz a number of times to study, record and perform with her mentors, and is a member of the group Cascada de Flores based in the Bay Area. Kyla is a dedicated teacher, and devotes much of her time outside of playing violin to teaching literacy and music classes throughout the East Bay.
Dolores "Lolis" García is the Co-Director of the East Bay Center's resident arts company, Son de la Tierra. Under the mentorship of Artemio Posadas, Lolis has been studying Mexican Son for over twenty years. She has mastered a number of string and percussion instruments in a variety of Son traditions including Huasteco, Jarocho, Tixtleco, and Mariachero. She has taught workshops and performed at festivals in Mexico and the U.S. Lolis teaches extensively with the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, and at many different schools in the East Bay.
