Khelsey Zarraga (she/her) is an African American and Venezuelan violinist, curator, arranger, improviser, recording artist, and social justice advocate based in Chicago, IL.
Khelsey performs a wide variety of genres including concerts of gospel, hip-hop, jazz, and classical music. She is a proud member of D-Composed, an all-Black chamber music collective celebrating the works of Black composers. She has collaborated with acclaimed artists and creatives such as Jamila Woods, Kris Bowers, Silkroad Ensemble, Jlin, Tricia Hersey, Cheryl Lynne Bruce, Pamela Z, Nathalie Joachim, Pauli the PSM, Angel Bat Dawid, and Plinio Fernandes. She has created original compositions and arrangements for D-Composed and enjoys curating new, community focused projects. She was also the founding violinist of Black Moon Trio, where she collaborated with artists such as poet/author Michael Tyler and author Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Khelsey has enjoyed performing across Europe, South America, and the Caribbean in venues such as the Chicago Theater, Kaufman Music Center, Sala São Paulo, Wilbur Theater, and Harris Theater. As a teaching artist, she has led workshops and panels on community engagement, representation in classical music, and composition, and she has been in residence and led masterclasses at the Jacobs School of Music, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, University of Louisville, and Denison University.
Featured Artworks
D-Composed at the Chicago International Film Festival, 2024
Image by Sean Kennedy for Chicago International Film Festival
D-Composed with Jamila Woods at the Kehrein Center, 2025
Image by Ashley Mia
D-Composed with Tricia Hersey at the Gary Comer Youth Center, 2024
Image by Sulyiman Stokes