Student Spotlight: Manuela Snchez Goubert

Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee has helped strengthen her own musical and cultural roots.

By

Andrea Recalde

February 26, 2025

Image courtesy of Temblores ONG

What's it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience-what they're learning in class, what kinds of projects they're involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they're listening to. This week, meet vocalist Manuela S nchez Goubert, a ninth semester vocal performance and music production and engineering double major from Bogot , Colombia.

Follow Manuela on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?I was born in Bogot and moved to New York City at nine, growing up surrounded by music from my rich musical lineage. My maternal grandmother was a classical pianist and one of the first women to earn a professional diploma from the Conservatorio Nacional in Colombia. In contrast, my paternal grandmother was a composer and singer from Villavicencio who collaborated with local musicians. After studying voice at LaGuardia High School and immersing myself in the NYC jazz scene, I began my studies at Berklee College of Music with a full-tuition scholarship. Berklee was pivotal for me-it was the only place in the U.S. where I could deeply explore Latin American folk music through specialized classes, allowing me to academically study my cultural heritage and connect my musical roots to my identity, drawing from family traditions of cumbias, bambucos, and popular music.

Berklee was pivotal for me-it was the only place in the U.S. where I could deeply explore Latin American folk music through specialized classes, allowing me to academically study my cultural heritage and connect my musical roots to my identity.

- Manuela S nchez Goubert

Whats a project youve worked on since coming to Berklee that youve been incredibly excited about?

RA CES album art

Courtesy of the artist

Since coming to Berklee, one of my most exciting projects has been the recent release of my debut album, RA CES. This album is deeply personal, as it blends my immersion in jazz with the Latin American folk rhythms I grew up with-cumbia, joropo, and currulao. Its my reencounter with these rhythms after being in the United States and experiencing my Colombianness from abroad. It's a seven-track journey that reimagines my musical roots, capturing the joy and the pain embedded in my culture's history. The songs also reflect my connection to social justice, exploring themes from love and happiness to the struggles against social violence. Creating RA CES has been an incredible journey, and I'm thrilled to share it with the world!

How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class?I intentionally try to balance work with rest, even though it's challenging in an environment where there's always someone doing more. After trying the nonstop-work approach-and eventually burning out-I realized that creativity needs breathing space. You need to live life to have something to write about. I'm a huge nature person; hiking, biking, and running all help me recharge. I also find inspiration in other art forms; I enjoy visiting art museums and galleries, which give me fresh perspectives and fuel my creativity.

When you think about your future, who inspires you most?When I think about my future, Patricia Z rate is one of the women who inspires me the most. She is an incredible saxophone player, a driving force within the Danilo P rez Foundation, and cofounder of the Panama Jazz Festival. Each year, she helps raise millions of dollars to produce this tremendous festival, which fosters creativity and ignites curiosity and passion for the arts in underserved communities across Panama. Patricia has shown me how influential art can drive social change through her vision of music therapy and social activism. As a Berklee Global Jazz Institute student led by Maestro Danilo P rez and Patricia, I've discovered a passion for artivism -activism through the arts. Patricia's dedication has inspired me to dream of creating a nonprofit in Colombia to educate youth while developing my artistic career, using art to make a real difference.

You and your band recently completed a tour supported by Berklee Global and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute-can you tell us about that experience?

Our RA CES tour, supported by Berklee Global and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, took us across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, blending performances with master classes and social outreach. The band-Sim n Mart nez (piano, Ecuador), Luana Brazz n (percussion, Peru), Juan Diego Panadero (clarinet, Colombia), Felipe lvarez BM '23 (guitar, Chile), Sebasti n Guerrero (bass, Colombia), Federico Aristiz bal (drums, Colombia), and Juan Sebasti n Ram rez Cubides (percussion, Colombia)-shared Latin American folk rhythms infused with jazz to preserve traditions and inspire innovation. The social impact was central to our mission. In Bogot , we partnered with the organization Temblores to engage marginalized communities, leading improvisation workshops for unhoused individuals in El Bronx and music sessions for underserved children in Ch a. We also connected with Berklee Global Partner schools students, fostering cross-cultural exchange. Berklee's support made this journey possible, reinforcing my commitment to music as a tool for social change-an approach inspired by the artivism philosophy taught by Patricia Z rate and Danilo P rez. I remain dedicated to keeping Latin American folk music alive and inspiring future generations to embrace and evolve these traditio

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/student-spotlight-manuela-san...
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