American actress, composer, and singer Laurin Talese to visit Cuba

American singer Laurin Talese will visit Cuba from April 1st to 6th as part of the celebrations taking place in the United States commemorating Women’s History and Jazz. The visit of the actress, composer, and singer, who has captivated audiences since childhood with her unique tone and poignant lyrics, is the result of collaboration between the United States Embassy in Cuba, the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, and the Cuban Institute of Music, as stated in the press release of the latter institution.

She will headline two concerts in Havana, the first on April 4th at the iconic Teatro Martí and the second on April 5th at the Theater Room of the National Museum of Fine Arts. Additionally, she will engage in an exchange with female artists from the Caribbean nation.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Laurin received classical training at the Cleveland Institute of Music and later studied classical and jazz singing at the University of the Arts, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Her debut album, «Gorgeous Chaos,» which received critical acclaim, features a stellar cast of musicians, including Adam Blackstone, Robert Glasper, and Christian McBride.

Talese’s talent has taken her around the world, performing at numerous internationally renowned venues such as the Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. In 2018, she won the seventh annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

The artist takes pride in representing the United States in the American Music Abroad Cultural Ambassadors Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implemented by the Association of American Voices. She also enjoys serving her local community on various boards, including the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter, where she served as vice president. She made her debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra performing a repertoire that included her original composition, «This Love,» conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin. In 2022, Laurin premiered her latest work, «Museum Of Living Stories,» commissioned by Chamber Music America.

In 2023, Talese made her theatrical debut in the role of Billie Holiday in «Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grille» at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. Laurin has reprised this role and currently stars in it at the Geva Theatre Center in Rochester.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez