I’m a mixed-race Asian American artist of Filipino, Korean, and Irish descent.
In the 1940s, my Filipino Grandparents, Carmela Paruginog Tablada and Jose Tablada (children of immigrant sugar cane plantation workers on the island of Kauai) were jazz musicians in Hawaii.
Grandma is singing “That’s My Desire” in this photo. I am so honored to sing this song and tell this story 80 years later.
My Korean Grandmother, Sook-Kee Chang, and my Irish Grandfather, Harold “Mac” McCauley, met at Pearl Harbor in the early 1940s.
They had to get special permission from my grandfather’s commanding officer to marry interracially. You can just see how much they love each other in this photo, and LOVE opens doors.
I’m honored to be one of Colorado Springs’ most beloved and prolific Music Directors who is known for my work with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Theatreworks, and the Millibo Art Theatre. I also Music Directed the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 16th Annual Henry Awards in 2022.
I hope to see you soon at one of my live concert events.