Lila (LEE-LAH), the essence of love, good, creativity, strength, and imagination.

Lila is a seasoned, professional multi-instrumentalist whose dedication to her craft is shown through her musical expression, compositions, and enthusiastic performances. Her primary instrument is the violin and her mastery of the instrument’s intricacies gives her the innate ability to touch the heart, soul, and spirit of her listeners.

While at Georgetown University, Lila was selected out of a nationwide audition to participate in the New York String Seminar Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to be mentored by Maestro Emeritus Alexander Schneider and Maestro Isaac Stern. Through consortium, she went on to become a founding member of The Howard University String Quartet, and a student at The Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. After participating in classical performances at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, Lila felt a strong desire to explore the musical genre of jazz and became enthralled with incorporating violin and other orchestral instruments into this endless sea of creativity that is given to us all through jazz.

In 1999, Lila won The City of Dreams Hollywood Unsigned Artist Talent Showcase in Hollywood, CA where she received rave reviews. Following that achievement, Lila returned to Washington, DC where she founded her first performing arts company through which she made the performing arts accessible and affordable to children from underserved communities in the greater Washington area. In 2000, Lila had the opportunity to perform as the opening act for hip-hop recording artist, DMX, during his East Coast tour. In 2001, she relocated her performing arts company to her hometown of Memphis, TN, merged with The Memphis Area Youth Association, and began training students in the Whitehaven area through donated space inside of Bishop Byrne High School. Within months, Lila’s students were coming to Whitehaven from areas as far as Bartlett, Germantown, Midtown, East Memphis, Hickory Hill, West Memphis, Arkansas, and Southaven, Mississippi. Lila and her students have presented over 20 recitals and performances. They have also accepted invitations and performed at The Whitehaven Jazz Festival, The Marvin Gaye Tribute at The Gibson Guitar Lounge, The Marvin Gaye Tribute at The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at The National Civil Rights Museum, Jazz Kids’ Night at Café Soul, The Cooper-Young Festival, and numerous community performances at libraries, nursing homes, and children’s events.

View Lila's profile

June 13, 2009 - Opening Act "Lila" for Deborah Coleman (blues guitarist) at The Ornamental Metal Museum
June 19, 2009 - Lila's School of the Arts Students autograph signing at Malco Paradiso with "Generation Next" youth music festival
June 20, 2009 - Lila's School of the Arts Students perform in Handy Park at "Generation Next" youth music festival
July 3-4, 2009 - California Music Fest, Ventura, CA
July 12, 2009 - The Levitt Shell, Memphis, TN

www.campusschool.org (Violin instructor)
www.hutchisonschool.org (Violin instructor)
www.sgis.org (Violin instructor)
www.memphisallstars.org (Community partnership)
www.baileyconstruction.com (Community partnership)
www.mypac901.com (Community partnership)

Upcoming projects:

Lila is in the process of fundraising for the complete renovation of a space that will become a performing arts center for music and dance instruction.  Class offerings will include violin, viola, cello, piano, acoustic guitar, rock guitar, flute, drum set, beginning ballet, boys' tap, and a city-wide youth orchestra.  Bailey's Construction has graciously agreed to donate labor, so the greatest need is for materials, including paint, sheet rock, and electrical/plumbing upgrades.  With committed parent volunteers and staff working together, Lila is convinced that the center will be a force of change in young lives.  If you would like to hear more about her exciting educational programs, and/or if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to her cause, please contact via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .