Zulema is a multidisciplinary musical narrative that follows a young Mexican woman’s migration journey across the U.S. Commissioned to celebrate the Grammy-nominated Sones de México Ensemble’s 25th anniversary, the project brought together music, dance, and storytelling in a large-scale performance at Chicago’s Millennium Park.

My Role
As the commissioned writer, I developed the story concept and narrative framework, working closely with Sones de México to build a narrative world expansive enough to accommodate a rotating ensemble of dancers and guest musicians. The final performance brought together 50+ performers at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion.

Creative Strategy
I built the narrative to showcase the ensemble’s musical diversity while exploring themes of displacement, aspiration, and identity. The piece was designed to resonate across audiences—from cultural organizations and families to first-time performance attendees—and support the ensemble’s vision of cultural education through art.

Outcome
Zulema culminated in a signature performance at Millennium Park following a city-wide tour of smaller venues. The show drew an estimated audience of 10,000+ at the Pritzker Pavilion and was supported by the City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs. A promotional trailer can be viewed below.