Of African American and Venezuelan descent, Khelsey Zarraga is a violinist, curator, arranger, improviser, recording artist, and social justice advocate based in Chicago, IL. 

A 3Arts Make A Wave award recipient, Khelsey performs a wide variety of genres including 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, Kris Bowers, Silkroad Ensemble, Jlin, Tricia Hersey, Cheryl Lynne Bruce, Pamela Z, Nathalie Joachim, Pauli the PSM, Angel Bat Dawid, and Plinio Fernandes. She has created original works and arrangements for D-Composed and Black Monument Ensemble and enjoys curating new, community focused projects.  She was also the founding violinist of Black Moon Trio, where she collaborated with artists such as poet/author Michael Tyler and composer Stacy Garrop. 

Khelsey has enjoyed performing across Europe, South America, and the Caribbean and in venues such as the Chicago Theater, Kaufman Music Center, Sala São Paulo, Wilbur Theater, and Harris Theater. As a teaching artist, she has led workshops and panels on community engagement, representation in classical music, and composition, and she has been in residence and led masterclasses at the Jacobs School of Music, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, University of Louisville, and Denison University.