Artist | Curator | Advocate
Who is Khelsey?
Of African American and Venezuelan descent, Khelsey Zarraga is a violinist, teaching artist, improviser, arranger, recording artist, and social justice advocate based in Chicago, IL.
A 3Arts Make A Wave award recipient, Khelsey performs a wide variety of genres and has performed concerts of gospel, hip-hop, jazz, and classical music. She is a proud member of D-Composed, an all-Black chamber music collective celebrating the works of Black composers. She has collaborated with acclaimed artists and creatives such as Jamila Woods, Tricia Hersey, Cheryl Lynne Bruce, Pamela Z, Nathalie Joachim, Pauli the PSM, Angel Bat Dawid, and Plinio Fernandes.
Workshops for Emerging Artists
Khelsey is excited to offer a variety of workshops and masterclasses designed for college students, music departments, and young professionals. These offerings pull back the curtain on artistic programming, career growth, and performance practice, with the goal of helping make a music career easier to navigate. All workshops are tailored to meet the needs of each institution.
Black Chamber Music Collective
D-Composed
D-Composed is a Chicago-based Black chamber music collective that celebrates Black culture and creativity through the music of Black composers.
We aim to make classical music experiences inclusive and reflective of the Black experience by intentionally creating experiences that meet our community where they are.