Conversations with Carolina Borja

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolina Borja. 

Hi Carolina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’m an Afro-Colombian musician, composer, and educator. In 2006, I won a Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship in Colombia. That led to winning a Fulbright scholarship in 2011. I did a Master’s in Cello Performance Pedagogy with that scholarship from 2011 to 2013. I went back to Colombia for a couple of years to teach and perform. In 2015 I founded the Afro Colombian Strings Scholarship which continues to serve Afro-Colombian strings students to this day. 

I came back to the US in 2016, and in 2018, I started the Tutti Music Program. I’ve also taught and collaborated with several artists since 2016. My most recent project is called Sororii. We are a female-led duo (cello and bassoon) that explores sisterhood across cultures. We release an album called Esreanza (hope in Spanish) recently. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely, there has been struggles. Some of them have been dealing with racism, xenophobia, and machoism. Within my career, I hit a major roadblock. I had a massive injury in my right arm in 2016, the most complex and painful I’ve ever had, and I’m still recovering from it. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a World musician, new directions cellist, Afro-Colombian folk singer, educator, and composer who has gathered my eclectic experience from collaborations with folk, fusion, and world music bands, interdisciplinary groups of artists, dance companies, chamber music ensembles, and orchestras. 

I hold a master’s degree in cello performance pedagogy from Ohio University. I’m a Fulbright, Martin Luther King Jr., and United States Department of State scholar, among other distinctions. 

And I’m the director and founder of the Afro-Colombian Strings Scholarship and the Tutti Musical Program. 

I currently specialize in playing and teaching cello and early childhood music sessions out-of-the-box. And in composing music from art collaborations. 

I’m really proud of my ancestry, the sensibilities that I inherited from my family lineage, and my ability to recover from setbacks. 

What sets me apart from others is my creativity and constant wonder that lead me to innovate. 

What do you think about happiness?
Eating good vegan and gluten-free food, sleeping at least 8 hours per day, having healthy relationships, commuting with nature, and practicing my art and expertise. 

Because wellness is at the top of my list. I’ve experienced heaviness when all those elements are in alignment. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carolinaborjamusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tutti.music.program/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF7it203hc-HG6uZt6CXCVQ/featured
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/carohappycellist
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/sororiimusic/?hl=en

Image Credits
Tommy Beech
David Wingate