Victoria Keum Jee is an actress, writer, musician, and director based in Los Angeles. After realizing her love for performing at an early age, her parents stoked her creativity and encouraged her to pursue music and theatre. But it wasn’t until they took her to see a production ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that she knew she had to pursue acting. After studying Musical Theatre/Vocal Performance at the University of Hartford, her resume now overflows with film credits–including her recent appearance inClone Cops, a sci-fi comedy film! Her advice to young artists? “Try all the new things you can and don't be afraid to fail–it's how you learn and grow!” Read on to learn more aboutVictoria Keum Jee and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Syante is a singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles. Growing up singing in choir inspired her to pick up the guitar in middle school, leading to a full-time music career. After winning Future Youth Records’ songwriting contest, she was able to record her original song alongside Jesse Colin Young, Kenny Aronoff, Laurence Juber, and Jorgen Carlsson. Now, she’s in the process of recording her debut album that she hopes will not only showcase her abilities, but resonate with her audience. When Syante’s not in the studio, she runs the Jubilee Vegan Cafe, providing free vegan meals to combat food insecurity at USC, and works closely with the United University Church. Her advice to young artists? “Be patient, stay consistent, and keep pushing forward.” Read on to learn more about Syante and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Cassie Simoneis a performer and voiceover artist based in Los Angeles!She got her start at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (MT), where she left to pursue singing and songwriting in LA. After shifting her focus back to theatre, her credits now include the world premiere cast of On This Side Of The World and Marvel’s Roger: The Musical (Starkette), as well as Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Frozen (Anna), Aladdin (Jasmine), and Clue (Yvette). When she’s not onstage, Simone can be found in the recording studio with voiceover and vocal work – like her latest project for an animated feature/musical project recording at Abbey Road Studios in London!Her advice to young artists? “... get out there and experience LIFE! Don’t just sit by your phone and email waiting for those auditions.”Read on to learn more aboutCassie Simoneand what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Fiona Rene is an actor based in Los Angeles. She got her start in the arts through a connection with a great manager, and has since gone on to perform in Tracker, Lincoln Lawyer and Invisible Hours.When Rene isn’t onscreen, she’s working towards building a nonprofit in her hometown (Grandma’s House), and serves on the board for the Game Academy. Her advice to young artists? “Meditate and get in touch with what YOU think while always being willing to play well with others and hear other opinions. “ Read on to learn more about Fiona Rene and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Betty Keis a songwriter based in Los Angeles. After founding a pop music club at her university, Ke began exploring different facets of music – from songwriting and production to marketing and festival organization. Now, she’s participating at the Grammy U program at the Recording Academy and working as an A&R intern at Ocean Five Records in addition to releasing her own music inspired by Eastern and Western styles! Ke’s advice to young artists? “Stay curious, keep exploring new ideas, and always believe in your unique voice.”Read on to learn more aboutBetty Keand what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Elise Solbergis a musician and performer based in Los Angeles. She got her start at four years old playing piano, which took her to the Yamaha Advanced Piano Academy in Tokyo. Upon moving to America, she took classical lessons from individual teachers, eventually receiving admittance to theUniversity of Southern California in the Thornton School of Music. After graduating, Solberg received an offer to perform alongside Chloe x Halle on MTV! Now, her resume includes credits such as playing at Coachella with Doechii, the Oscars for Beyoncé, the Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress, and NPR’sTiny Desk Concert. You can also catch her flute solo in Dannylux’s new album, “DLUX” with a flute solo – and now that she’s signed with Warner Chappell and Sir Nolan, you can expect to hear more soon! When she’s not creating, Solberg is the founder and executive director of Turn Up Her Mic, a nonprofit to empower women in live music in a male-dominated field. Her advice to young artists? “Whatever career you choose in the arts, it’s important to always remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint.”Read on to learn more aboutElise Solbergand what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Jen Cheng is a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for amplifying underrepresented voices based in West Hollywood. As an avid young reader, Cheng found the magic in reading – using character voices when storytelling to her younger siblings and envisioning how she could write her worlds into existence. Upon acceptance with a full scholarship to a summer journalism program at SF State her senior year of high school, she continued to seek out her voice and perfect her craft. Now, Cheng is about to release a book (Braided Spaces) in October and a single about self-discovery on the way, is in the process of penning both a mystery detective novel and a tween show, and will be developing a documentary project about LGBTQ elders. Her advice to young artists? “You’re still an artist even if you’re not doing it full-time. It’s like growing and watering a plant. Even if it’s not the ideal environment, if you’re keeping it alive and that’s sometimes what we have to do.” Read on to learn more about Jen Cheng and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Anu Bhatt is a multilingual actress and Bharatanatyam dancer based in Los Angeles. A love of performance led her to get her undergrad at UC Berkeley, MFA from CCPA/Roosevelt in Chicago, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate from UCSD. After signing with an agent at her end-of-year showcase, she became a SAG-AFTRA member three years later. Now, her credits includeThe Seagull(Masha) at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, premiering and touring her one-woman showHollow/Wave, creating and award-winning first short film,AutoCorrect, and currently, her second short film,Crossing the Desert, which is in pre-production. Throughout her career, Bhatt found maintaining a resilience-based mindset proved valuable to fighting against cultural norms as she pursued the arts. Her advice to young artists? “Growth mindset, growth mindset, growth mindset. I can't say it enough… it's not only okay to fail, it's normal and necessary…” Read on to learn more about Anu Bhatt and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Gloria John is a performer based in Los Angeles. Second City provided her with a start in the Arts through sketch comedy shows, and now her resume boasts credits such asThe Consultanton Prime Video,Shifters, andDear Tony. Offscreen, John puts in work with organizations that help domestic violence survivors, provide mental health resources, and aid to veterans, and finds her center through workouts, massages, friends, and meditation.Her advice to young artists? Be the role models you needed growing up – “We need more Asian American representation in the arts. I believe we have so much talent, history and culture to share with the world.” Read on to learn more about Gloria John and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Nanrisa Lee is an actor and certified scuba diver with 20 years of bartending experience based in L.A. After a friend convinced her to perform in a scene for a school assembly, she knew she’d found her path. Her resume lists credits such as NBC’s Quantum Leap and Unflinching Triumph, a mockumentary, and teachers Larry Moss and Lesly Kahn. Lee hopes to take up directing in the future, and would tell her past self to wear more sunscreen! Her advice to young artists? “Build a community. Try hard. Trust yourself, and don’t be afraid to fail.” Read on to learn more about Nanrisa Lee and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Paula Yoo is a writer and musician based in LA. She got her start through journalism, where she learned the fundamentals of reporting, research, and efficiency. These skills transferred to her eventual career as a fiction and nonfiction author and TV producer/writer, and eventual degrees from Yale, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, and Warren Wilson College! Her work includes From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial That Galvanized the Asian American Movement, an “award-winning YA nonfiction book” about a “famous AAPI civil rights case” in addition to selling 3 TV drama pilots to well-known streaming platforms. Her latest book, Rising From the Ashes, a “narrative nonfiction YA book about the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising and the solidarity formed between the Korean American and Black communities” is set for publication in 2024! When she’s not writing, Yoo is an advocate for national and local issues dear to her, and supports the LA Food Bank, Orlando Youth Alliance, Stop AAPI Hate, and We Need Diverse Books. Her advice to young artists? “Embrace your individuality by finding your voice and working hard at your craft to let that voice blossom and grow.” Read on to learn more about Paula Yoo and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
An Phan is an actress, filmmaker, equestrian, and pageant community member based in Los Angeles. She fell in love with the Arts as a ballerina, artist, and pageant candidate, before going on to pursue theatre in high school. After obtaining her master’s in acting for film, Phan went on to appear as the first Asian-American girl on HBO’s hit seriesEuphoria, Showtimes’Kiddingas a leading co-star for the season finale, multiple Vietnamese talk shows,Vogue Italia, a TEDx speaker, and even the America Regency International 2021 Winner as Miss Vietnam! Offstage, she’s a professional equestrian, and combines her love for helping children with ADHD and autism with riding horses as a therapy tool – all while acting as ambassador for the National Organization of Vietnamese American Leadership of Greater Washington and promoting the work of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and working towards her Ph. D! Her advice to young actors? “Keep doing what you love with authenticity… [and] be sure to give back to your community.” Read on to learn more about An Phan and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Andrea Somera is an actress based in Pasadena. She got her start with local youth theatre during a production ofPirates of Penzance, but surprisingly didn’t care for performing until her next audition forTom Sawyer! Now, her resume holds credits such asTheHunchback of Notre Dame(Esmerelda),Assassins,andPriscilla Queen of the Desert, Letters to Eve,as well as a Halo Top commercial shoot! Somera currently strives to “[live] a life filled with love, support, experiences, and constant learning” as she paves her own path towards Broadway, and fiercely believes that the world is better with the artistry and authenticity of Asian Americans and their stories. Her advice to young artists? “Expect the unexpected!” Read on to learn more about Andrea Somera and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Haven Everly is a performer based in Los Angeles. Raised by professional singers, she formed a girl-group at the age of 5 with her sisters, and went on to perform as the lead The Girl Who Left Home, “a Fil-Am musical feature film… [highlighting] singing, family, culture, and acceptance.” and at The Sugar Bar in NYC (with Dr. Maya Angelou in attendance!) Everly finds that having a good understanding of the inner workings of the industry and to find a balance between work and personal life helped her really understand her craft. Her advice to young artists? “Be patient. You’re enough.” Read on to learn more about Haven Everly and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Joy Ngiaw is a composer inspired by human connection based in Los Angeles. She began learning classical piano at 6 and found a love for composing after joining her school’s orchestra. After attending Berklee College of Music, she went on to score shows such as Blush (Apple TV+), Rescued by Ruby (Netflix), and Disney Short Circuit S1EP10: Jing Hua (Disney+), with the first season of an upcoming animated television series as her latest project! Ngiaw’s artistic goal is to work on projects that celebrate diversity and showcase the beauty of different cultures. When offstage, she’s a firm believer in self-care and engages in early morning practices such as journaling, meditation, and walks. Her advice to young artists? “Be kind, be curious, and be 100% authentically yourself.” Read on to learn more about Joy Ngiaw and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
