Creative Work Fund Award
I’m thrilled to announce that I have received a Creative Work Fund grant, in partnership with SFJAZZ, to create When Dogs Howl, a new multi-disciplinary and multimedia project that reflects a deep, personal connection to the ongoing migration crisis. This work will bring together jazz big band, Afro-Venezuelan percussion, dance, storytelling, and immersive video to explore the powerful and often untold stories of migrants, refugees, and immigrants.
When Dogs Howl is inspired by the experiences of Venezuelan refugees, individuals whose journey covers more than 3,000 miles across eight countries in search of safety, opportunity, and a new identity. I aim to capture the emotional and physical challenges of this epic migration through a series of original jazz compositions and boundary-pushing multimedia elements. By combining music with video projections, we will portray real stories that highlight how these individuals' identities have shifted or evolved throughout their lives, as they confront displacement, hardship, and hope.
The culmination of this project will be one or two live performances at SFJAZZ's Miner Auditorium during the 2025-26 season. These performances will feature a powerful fusion of jazz, Afro-Venezuelan rhythms, and vibrant storytelling that will paint a sonic and visual portrait of the struggles, resilience, and contributions of immigrants and refugees to our collective identity, particularly focusing on Venezuelan refugees. Through When Dogs Howl, we aim to give voice to these stories in a way that resonates with audiences, sparking conversations about migration, belonging, and the shifting notion of home.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Creative Work Fund and SFJAZZ for their generous support, which makes this important work possible. I’m excited to bring this deeply personal and timely project to life, and I look forward to sharing it with you all. Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to the premiere!
Read the official press release here.
