Chava Mirel is a versatile young performer and composer in the New York area with influences spanning a wide spectrum of styles and cultures, including jazz, bossa nova, R&B, reggae, and hiphop. Driven to sing since she was a young child in her native Seattle, Chava performed regularly throughout her childhood, accompanied on guitar or piano by her father. A student of piano and guitar, she went on to win the NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) Song Writing Competition in 1991 and 1992. Following high school graduation she attended California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, where she focused on African music and dance, jazz theory, arranging, and Latin music. While a student at CalArts she was a member of Alan Eder and Friends' Reggae Passover and Reggae Chanukah, as well as the Reggae Chanukah album featuring roots reggae artist Ras Michael. Chava's studio career began when she was a teenager with commercial voiceover and musical spots and subsequently industrial films. She has been a guest soloist on recordings of several highly acclaimed artists, including Soulive, Beans (from Anti Pop Consortium) and Maktub (with Reggie Watts). Chava has further pursued her interest in reggae music in New York where she has worked with producer Bertram Brown, founder of the Jamaican record label Freedom Sounds. She released a single on that label entitled, "Eyes of Jah". She also toured in Europe backing up "punky reggae legend" Ari Up of the Slits, who was chosen to play in Morrissey's Meltdown at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 2004. In addition to her performance career Chava has served as a Cantorial Soloist in congregations in Southern California, Seattle, Manhattan, and Westchester County. She has been teaching since middle school, educating students of all ages in subjects including music, Hebrew, Judaic history, B'nai Mitzvah studies and prayer study. She currently teaches music to preschool students on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Chava recently released her debut solo album, Journey, which features her Jewish and secular compositions. She is currently performing regularly as a solo artist as well as freelancing with R&B, jazz and reggae bands.