Singer, guitarist, songwriter, percussionist Stefani Valadez offers a rich repertoire of soulful, romantic, enchanting melodies, including songs from many nations. A third generation musician, Stefani has an international following of fans who are charmed by her deep, haunting voice and the wide range of musical and ethnic lore she incorporates into her performances.

Ms Valadez has attracted some of the best world & jazz musicians in the business to form the Stefanie Valadez Ensemble.

Jeff Breeh
Electric Bass wizard, has performed with Oingo Boingo and the Pointer Sisters and countless others.

Richard Hardy
Saxes, Flutes and Ethnic Woodwinds. He performed with Carol King for 14 years and has played and recorded with the Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
website: www.myspace.com/richardhardyflute

Jamie Papish
Jamie has made a name for himself in the LA World Music Scene as a passionate percussionist of ethnic rhythms. He maintains an active performance and recording schedule as a member of the critically acclaimed Yuval Ron Ensemble, The Stefani Valadez Ensemble, The Nashuva Band, Jamie has performed at such notable venues as the Ford Amphitheater, the Skirball Cultural Center, the Getty Museum, the Hammer Museum, UCLA's Fowler Museum, The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,  Brandeis University,  Johns Hopkins University,  The Islamic Center of LA ,  USC, Yale University and has performed at international festivals in Poland, South Korea, Israel, Jordan, Mexico and Morocco. Jamie has numerous recording credits: The Kronos Quartet; Yuval Ron's 'Under the Olive Tree', 'Tree of Life' and 'Seeker of Truth'" ,  Tony Khalife's 'Transcendence';  Movies: 'How to Go Out on a Date in Queens', TV Show 'Sleeper Cell' and short film Academy Award winning 'West Bank Story' composed by Yuval Ron.
websites: www.jamiepapishmusic.com

Christo Pellani
World Percussion. Christo's musical endeavors include master studies in Africa, Brazil, India, and Bali. He's played with Air Supply, Mary Wells, The Shirrelles, the Marvellettes, Nina Hagen, Ronnie Spector, Brandon Fields, Fabien Mamman, The Agape International Choir and many others.
websites: www.SoundFormation.com & www.christopellani.com

Nyofu Tyson
Born in Los Angeles of Danish-Lebanese-African and Native American heritage, Nyofu began his career as a bassist, playing jazz and latin. He began to play the Saz in Turkey and lived for many years in Sweden, where he worked with Zulfu Livaneli, Okay Temiz and Hadji Tekbilek. Since returning to LA, he has collaborated with Omar Faruk Tekbilek, oudist John Bilezikian, Cuatro Caminos Flamenco, among others. In addition to being part of Stefani Valadez Ensemble, he heads the IST/West Ensemble, blending Flamenco with Turkish influences. Nyofu has two CD's "Timeless Songs", a collection of Turkish folk poets; and "La Guitarra Turca", original work blending Mideast, Latin and Jazz. Nyofu has gained recognition in Turkey for his interpretations of Turkish folk poets and his eclectic style of Saz playing.
Nyofu's websites: nyofutyson.com & www.myspace.com/istwest

Leo Chelyapov
Leo Chelyapov, composer and clarinetist, graduated from the Moscow College of Musical Arts and immigrated to California in 1992. As a klezmer musician he is devoted to infusing pure, traditional Jewish folk music into the fabric of American pop culture. Leo was commissioned to arrange "Klezmer Dances" for the LA Guitar Quartet, and recorded it for Sony Classical. He has two CD's with Hollywood Klezmer .Leo's crossover endeavors into jazz music include concerts with jazz luminaries Buddy Collette, Herb Jeffries and Bobby Rodriguez.He's performanced at the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. Leo's commercial work includes soundtrack for "Private Parts," with The Red Hot Chili Peppers, performances on MTV, Late Night with David Letterman, and Madison Square Garden.

Brandon Turner
Brandon Turner is a double bassist and composer, originally from Maine, currently based in Los Angeles. Brandon has studied bass most recently with living jazz legend John Clayton and Los Philharmonic principal bassist Dennis Trembly. During his graduate studies at University of Southern California, Brandon was recipient of the Ray Brown Memorial Scholarship. Brandon enjoys playing the bass across many genre including classical, jazz, folk and "world" music. Brandon is the leader of a crossover world chamber group called the Haberdashery Ensemble. Brandon can also be found with French chanteuse Jessica Fichot, Stefani Valadez Ensemble and freelancing with many Los Angeles artists. Brandon recently received a Subito grant from the American Composers Forum, which helps emerging composers produce new music.

The Ensemble has been performing together since 1998 at Sacred Music Events, Peace Festivals, Concerts, Clubs and Cultural Centers including: