Jennifer Manzanillo

Ms. Manzanillo is a music educator and philanthropist from Boston, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Berklee College of Music. In 2010, Manzanillo founded a non-profit organization by the name of Project X (formally known as Beyond Borders), an organization that provides music education to the youth of Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.  Manzanillo has been accepted as a Peace Corp volunteer for the 2017 cohort in the country of Madagascar. Jennifer hopes to bring her experience in developing non-profit music education programs and arts education in public schools to Gerami Groover Presents.

Elta Garrett

Mrs. Elta Garrett is a native of Louisiana and has become known as one of the legendary vocalists of the African American Spirituals. Mrs. Garrett is a graduate of Grambling State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance. During her years at Grambling, Garrett received the opportunity to travel with Grambling’s choral program, performing the Negro Spirituals throughout the United States and abroad. It was not long before Garrett’s gifted vocal abilities began to get recognition from symphony orchestras, and music institutions such as Juilliard and New England Conservatory. Elta was very involved with the civil rights movement in the 1960’s and was invited to sing numerous times by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at his various rallies and services. Her passion for civil rights leaned towards equity in public school education for minority children. After receiving her Master in Music from New England Conservatory, Elta remained in Boston and began her passion to fight for equity in education at the Boston Public Schools. Garrett, has served as a music educator for more than forty (40) years in the Boston Public Schools. Many of her students have gone on to become successful politicians, musicians and prominent leaders around the country. Today, Elta continues on her mission to teach the music of the African American people, as she serves as the Director and Co-Founder of the Ruth Hamilton-Elta Garrett Music and Arts Academy, the only after-school formal music training in the Roxbury community. Mrs. Elta Garrett looks forward to bringing her knowledge of music education pedagogy for grades K1-12 to Gerami Groover Presents and its Educational Outreach Department.

Jetro Da Silva

Dr. Jetro Da Silva is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  As a pianist, Jetro has become one of the most respected pianist in Brazil. After years of many grand accomplishments in Brazil, he matriculated to Berklee College of Music where he received his Bachelors of Music in Music Production and Engineering. After graduation, Berklee was fortunate enough to have Da Silva as a faculty for more than a decade in their ensemble, professional writing, and piano departments. Dr. Da Silva has received both his master and doctorate in Ministry degrees from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, specializing in religious music. Jetro has had the honor of sharing the stage with many world-renowned performers such as, the late Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, B.B King, Gladys Knight, and Patti LaBelle, just to name a few. When Jetro is not touring or teaching you can find him working as the Artist Relations Manager for  Roland, USA corporation. Dr. Da Silva comes with a plethora of experience in music production, the studies of the Afro folkloric music and culture of Latin America and caribbean. Jetro is excited to share his knowledge in hopes to respectfully advise the Gerami Groover Presents organization in its initiatives.