Music has always ran easily into the veins of our family. Ever since we were little kids classical music has been a symbol of happiness and peace for our family. We were taught to love classical music by our grandfather Kiko. He came from Cuba in the 1960’s in order for his family to have a better future. When we were little we would spend hours listening to his records of symphonies and operas and he was so supportive in us pursuing careers in music. Even though my brother  Joseph and I studied music, it wasn’t until Alyssa came around that we would witness both the raw talent and incredible determination needed in order to be a successful musician.
 Alyssa’s dedication to the flute started just nearly 10 years ago and in that short time she has accomplished so much. From winning competitions to playing with renowned artists all over the country to most recently graduating as a Stamps Scholar from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Alyssa is now going to pursue her dream and move to Los Angeles and study with world renowned flutist Jim Walker at the University of Southern California. 
 Growing up, our parents never missed a single performance and worked extra long hours to pay for music lessons and instruments. Our parents drove and flew all over the country to ensure that she received the best music education possible. Ever since Alyssa was a little girl she has had a picture of the famous film flute player Jim Walker in her room, and little did she know that her dream to study with him would come true. We just need to help her make her dreams take flight. 
Although our family has blessed us with a lot of love and support throughout the years, Alyssa has had to find ways to fund her education through scholarships and grants. Alyssa has secured a scholarship to study in the fall, but still needs our financial support to offset the remainder of her tuition and the high costs of living expenses to live in Los Angeles. She has worked so hard to get to this point — countless hours in the practice room even during times where the average young adult would be out having fun, Alyssa has stayed focused and dedicated to her craft, and overcoming all of the odds against her pursing such a competitive and demanding career. Her passion has had no limits. 
Although our grandfather has passed away, we know that she will keep his legacy alive. Pursuing this music education means so much to her and to our family. Please help us help her follow her dreams in this exciting new chapter in her life.  It would mean the world to her-- we know that she will reach the stars!



Here is her biography:

Cuban-American flutist, Alyssa Mena, grew up in a bilingual household surrounded by different genres of music. She began piano lessons at the age of 8 and began playing the flute at the age of 11. A native of Miami, Florida, Mena graduated from a performing arts high school, New World School of the Arts (NWSA) in 2015. While she was at NWSA, she performed a full solo recital every year, performed in the Florida All-State Concert Concert and Symphonic Bands, and was principal flute of the Miami Music Project Youth Orchestra. She was also a featured soloist in the NWSA Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition winners’ concert; she performed the first movement of Jacques Ibert’s “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra”. That same year, she was also featured as soloist with the NWSA Wind Ensemble where she played Joel Puckett’s “The Shadow of Sirius”. In 2015, Mena received national recognition from the National YoungArts Foundation where she was selected as a YoungArts winner in Classical Flute. Mena has received honors from the FMEA “Florida Music Educators Association” in years 2013, 2015, and later in college in 2017, by performing in the All-State Concert Band, All-State Symphonic Band and All-State Intercollegiate band.
For her undergraduate degree, Alyssa was afforded the life-changing opportunity to go to college through a scholarship program sponsored by the generosity of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation. She was one of five students selected among a national audition to attend University of Miami’s Frost School of Music (FSOM) on a full scholarship. The fellowship is with the work study of performing extensively in the Stamps Woodwind Quintet whilst keeping excellent academic standing. Their ensemble often volunteered to perform concerts for the community. They engaged in outreach performances for underserved communities through the resources of our fellowship. At FSOM, she studied privately with the former principal flutist of the Metropolitan Opera, Trudy Kane. While at the Frost School of Music, Mena has had the opportunity to perform extensively with various ensembles, such as the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, Frost Wind Ensemble, Frost Symphonic Winds, Ensemble Ibis (New Music Ensemble), Frost Flute Ensemble, and Frost Symphony Orchestra. In addition to traditional classical ensembles, Alyssa also enjoyed collaborating with jazz ensembles such as the Concert Jazz Band and ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) Ensemble. Throughout her years at FSOM, Alyssa has had the chance to perform in masterclasses with renowned flutists such as Sir James Galway, Jim Walker, Aaron Goldman, Valerie Coleman-Page, Jeff Zook,  Jennifer Grim, Brook Ferguson, Elizabeth Rowe, Nicola Mazzanti, and Marina Piccinini.
Mena’s passion for music has landed her a wide work experience that ranges from private flute teacher at the Frost Preparatory Program and local music studio Artz Nook, as well as music library clerk for Disney Parks Live Entertainment Express Music Services, where she supports both recording sessions and live music performances throughout Walt Disney World.  Mena’s community outreach experience has ranged from performing in pit orchestras, and performing outreach concerts around the city.