Songwriting + Performance Track [ages 12-18]

Steve Chandy began his journey into songwriting and musicianship as a way to process trauma, mental health, and the world around him. His artistic path started as a street busker in Philadelphia, where he collaborated with organizations to provide music education in communities that had lost their school music programs. Seven years ago, Chandy relocated to Boston, where he helped manage a music school and performed as a songwriter under the name "Barefoot Chandy." You might also often see him at local protests, with a drum or guitar in hand. Chandy is committed to making music education accessible to all ages, using it as a medium for self-expression, personal storytelling, and social justice advocacy. He believes in the power of music as a tool for resistance and community building.

Brandon H. Allen has been with ZUMIX since 2012, teaching private voice lessons and the Voces Ensemble. He is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, arranger and music educator living and working in the Greater Boston area. With a starting foundation in gospel music growing up in church, Brandon went on to study classical and Negro spirituals, touring with The Boys Choir Of Harlem while still in middle school. There, he got to perform alongside greats like Kathleen Battle and Aretha Franklin. In high school, he performed alongside Whitney Houston on Good Morning America with the Talent Unlimited Chorus before moving to Texas and earning the 1st Chair Bass 2 position in the TMEA competition, earning him several scholarships to study classical music and opera. While studying opera, he realized his passion was contemporary music (songwriting, production and business) and transferred to Berklee College of Music. There, he performed with Bootsy Collins, Patrice Rushen, Michael McDonald, the late John Blackwell Jr., Bobby McFerrin and many others while earning his degree in music business. Along with teaching at ZUMIX, Brandon is a lead singer with Honey Train Music Services (Weddings & Corporate) , a worship team musician with New Roads Catholic Community, music director for the upcoming new hybrid film and musical stage play “Donuts and Stardust”, and is working on his first solo EP. His cover rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings” was used by Miss Massachusetts Elizabeth Pierre in December 2021 for the talent portion of the Miss America 2022 competition.