Juliana (Jú) Linares

Juliana Linares is a percussionist, program designer, and rhythm event facilitator whose passion is empowering people through music. Sharing the spirit of her homeland, Brazil, Jú guides participants into playing irresistible rhythms tinged with samba, samba reggae, maracatu, and other Brazilian flavors. Within minutes, participants feel the ginga, the Brazilian relaxed way of being, feeling new potential for creativity and communication.

“My favorite place to be is in the zone of co-creation, making music with others. I love seeing people discover the joy of playing drums, and coming into musical dialog. The back-and-forth between expressing and listening, playing one’s part and hearing how it fits into the whole group song, teaches us so much about relating and working together in life.”

Jú is a versatile ensemble player whom other musicians welcome as an accompanist. She intuitively knows where and what to play to add richness and depth to the music. She contributes with everything from drum set to hand percussion; djembe and pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine) are her signature instruments.

Jú is also a photographer and video editor with an eye for the feelings of the moment. Her colorful images from her travels in Brazil, Bali, and the U.S. capture the beauty of the landscapes, and the warmth of people in their everyday lives. Holding a degree in sound design, Jú specializes in videos for drumming-related businesses, performers, and events. Her work can be seen on the web on YouTube and Blip.tv.

Júis a certified Music Together teacher, a music education program for young children and parents.  She has completed the leadership (third) level of Arthur Hull’s Hawaii Drum Circle Facilitation programs.