miwa

Mollie Ducoste began taking violin lessons at three years old in group Suzuki classes. She studied classically until college at Hampton University, where she began pursuing jazz violin while completing a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She has spent summers playing her jazz violin in New Orleans with Ellis Marsalis, Wendell Brunious, Carl LeBlanc, Charmaine Neville, and Tonya Boyd-Cannon. A North Carolina native, Mollie relocated to the Philadelphia area in 2017, where she has since released two EPs, Voices and Taste under her artist name, Mollie Rose.

Veronica MJ is an instrumentalist, DJ, educator, and curator based in Philadelphia. She is drawn to sound involving the intersection of experimental, improvisational, and traditional practice; has a passion for creating and realizing diverse types of artistic programs and communal art experiences; and is an active member of the creative and Latin music scene in Philadelphia. A versatile musician, Veronica shape-shifts as both a violinist and violist as well as between different genres and languages within music. Most recently, Veronica is an active DJ on the Afro-Latin dance scene in Philadelphia, producing and organizing salsa and bachata events throughout the area.

As a young musician in Philadelphia, Dariel Peniazek had the great privilege to be surrounded and inspired by some of the most prolific Jazz, R&b, and gospel players on the scene today. As his career progressed, his love for Latin-American and afro-caribbean music led him to his own musical crossroads, combining the grit and soul of Philadelphia with the captivating rhythms of Latin America. Dariel has shared the stage with a plethora of artists from a variety of musical worlds, including Alain Perez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Javier Colina, Perico Sambeat, John Swana, David Rivera, Arturo Stable, Braxton Cook, Roman Filiu, Fernando Costa, and others.

Timothy Ragsdale is an accomplished bassist and influential educator. Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Timothy is a versatile musician proficient in electric and upright bass with a repertoire spanning from jazz, R&B, soul, gospel and beyond. Timothy's musical journey began playing in churches in Philadelphia, later studying at West Chester University where he earned a BA in Classical Music Performance. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with a diverse array of artist and ensembles including but not limited to The Sun Ra Arkestra ,The Black Pearl Orchestra, Marvin Sapp, Denise King and many more.

Born and raised in New York City and now based in Philadelphia, Stephanie Rose crafts music that is both raw and vulnerable. Her songs explore self-love, desire, and the freedom of choosing oneself, offering listeners a safe space to feel whatever they need in the moment. With an honest sound that flows and shifts like water, her music invites you to return again and again, each time finding something new to hold onto. Stephanie Rose is currently working on her first EP with her leading single, little bird (ti zwazo) out on all streaming platforms.

Arturo Stable is a Grammy-winning percussionist, composer, and creative visionary whose career bridges continents and cultures. Originally from Cuba, he has performed and recorded with many of today’s leading jazz and world artists while releasing five acclaimed albums as a bandleader. Arturo’s music blends jazz, Afro-Cuban traditions, and contemporary sounds into a distinctive voice that is both innovative and deeply rooted. Beyond the stage, he has directed international festivals, produced documentaries, and taught at UCLA, Berklee College and the University of the Arts among others. With every project, Arturo inspires audiences through rhythm, creativity, and a commitment to artistic excellence.

Mervin Toussaint is a Philadelphia-based saxophonist, composer, and educator whose music blends jazz, church music, and contemporary influences. A Haitian American artist, he grew up in the Haitian church and, since moving to Philadelphia in 2016, has performed with The Temptations, The Four Tops, Mike Boone, and V. Shayne Frederick. As a bandleader, he has appeared at South Jazz Kitchen, Chris’ Jazz Café, and the MAAS Building, often collaborating with poets and spoken-word artists. His 2022 debut album, LAKAY, explores themes of home, identity, loss, and spirituality. Beyond performing, Toussaint is deeply committed to music education, using his experience to mentor the next generation of artists.