SINGER, SONGWRITER, EDUCATOR MICHELLE BRAVA

MICHELLE BRAVA is the complete artist: composer, vocalist, educator, choral director, choreographer, and scriptwriter.

Brava is also a professor of music at the Inter-American University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in voice. Through projects such as “Objectivo La Fama,” “La Voz Kids,” and “Pequeños Gigantes USA,” Michelle helped children discover their passion for music and song.

Before she earned the monikers “La Brava” and the “New Queen of Filin and Blues,” she sang background vocals for Isabel Pantoja, Paloma San Basilio, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Glenn Monroig, among others. Also, as an actress, Brava has appeared in “The True Story of Pedro Navaja, “Aladdin,” “Tarzan,” and local productions of “Rent,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Mama Mia,” and “Nine.”

Michelle is affiliated with the Arturo Somohano Orchestra and is known for her voice, which ranges between mezzo and lyrical soprano.

Brava is “pure fire” (Fuego) when performing with Gilberto Santa Rosa, the Puerto Rican All-Stars, or singing lead vocals with Humberto Ramirez’s big jazz band, with whom she has performed tributes to La Lupe, Celia Cruz, and Lucy Fabery, among others.

To date, Brava has released two recordings and several singles, including Brava (2009), “La Que Manda” (2014), and “Alma Mia” (2017), a concept album produced by the pianist, composer, arranger Manolo Navarro.

In 2019 Michelle presented her interpretation of the hit “Forever” by Kany García with an arrangement by pianist Luisito Marín. In 2020 she also premiered “Por si Mañana,” another arrangement by Marín, as a duet with Norbert, a former member of NG2. In 2022, she appeared as a guest on Gilberto Santa Rosa’s Christmas special, “De Navidad.”

Michelle Brava is part of a new generation of multi-talented Puerto Rican women who are honoring and expanding on the legacies of Lucy Fabery, Sylvia Rexach, Celia Cruz, Elena Burke, and Yolanda Rivera, among others. Though Michelle is not well known in the US (yet), I believe it is only a matter of time before Michelle receives the recognition she deserves.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

BRAVA (2009)

LA QUE MANDA (2014)

SINGLE: SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU (2022)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023