How my journey began

“From a very young age, I was surrounded by music. As a young child, I would go to drum circles with my mother; Joyce, and younger sister; Nadia, every month. We would bring a small tote of different percussive instruments like guiros, maracas, and shakers. Everyone would take turns playing on the big Djembe and would watch as the people danced around the dimly lit room.

Growing up, I watched movies like “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”; films that relied heavily on music to tell the story. My grandmother; Eleanor Collard Friedenberg, was perhaps the largest musical influence in my life. She had an upright piano in her living room and would always sing tunes from the Great American Songbook. For her birthday almost every year, she took our family to Toby’s Dinner Theater in Columbia Maryland to see a new musical. Some of the most notable titles were: “The King And I”, “Fiddler On The Roof”, “South Pacific”, among other classics.

Since I was very young, I would always memorize song lyrics. I often note that the first song I ever memorized was the title track of the album “Replay” by Iyaz, released in 2009. Having been born in 2003, I was 6 when the song came out.

My first formal musical instruction came from the Richardson School of Music, where for a few months in 2011, my mom sent me to drum lessons once a week. My first song: “Back In Black” by AC/DC. After those few months, I stopped taking lessons because I didn’t want to have to play a recital; a requirement to continue at the school.

After a period of self-teaching, I picked the drum sticks back up and enrolled in the beginning percussion class in the 7th grade where I learned how to play orchestral percussion, becoming the head timpani player the following year. At the end of middle school, I became a member of the School of Rock Silver Spring, where I joined their seasonal performance program. It was here that I was introduced to all types of Rock, Blues, Funk, Pop, and Soul music.

In my first year at Northwood High School, I continued my orchestral playing in the symphonic orchestra, but also joined the Gladiator Drumline. Little did I know, that this decision would change my life forever. The Captain of the drumline, Khalil, would become one of my greatest mentors, and best friends. It was there at the 5th bass that I began to come into my own, and become an amazing performer.

During my time with the Gladiator Drumline, as both a beginner and a Captain, I learned to respect others and myself. Khalil taught me many things, but the most important being: respect everyone and the fact that you don’t know their story, and always be yourself- no matter what others think.

Throughout my years with the Gladiators, we were awarded 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place trophies for performances at the regional competition.

My relationship with the Berklee College of Music started in 2019 when I attended the Berklee Summer Groove School. It was there that I fell in love with the environment and energy. Later that summer, I attended Victor Wooten’s Music Nature Camp where I was convinced that Berklee was the place I was meant to be.”

Throughout the course of his musical career, Kai has won over the hearts of music lovers from all walks of life. Performing at a variety of venues, making dozens of appearances, and continuing to record new music, Kai has been earning the admiration and affection of fans since 2017. Hailing from the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia area), Kai graduated in the spring of 2021 from Northwood High School in Montgomery County, Maryland. He currently attends the Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts and plans to study Music Production and Engineering.