Zayra Pola

Zayra Pola is a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-percussionist known for breaking barriers in Latin music. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, she made history as the first female percussionist to receive a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music. She has performed alongside Grammy winners such as Bill Whelan, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Javier Limón, as well as Latin music legends including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Luis Enrique, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Andy Montañez, Vico C, and more. Her talent and versatility have earned her prestigious awards, including “Best Female Timbal Player of the Year” (New England Salsa Music Awards) and “Salsera del Año” (Latin Boston USA). In 2022, she made her debut as a salsa vocalist and timbalera with the release of her first album, Te Va a Gustar, which earned her a Boston Music Award nomination for Best Latin Artist. She was later crowned “Queen of the Timbal” by Tito Puente Jr. and recognized as the 2024 Rising Star by the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York. Zayra Pola stands as living proof that music and percussion are expressions of the soul not defined by gender, but by truth, power, and purpose.