Participant Biographies and Project Descriptions

Frances Rios

Frances has been a pianist, piano teacher and bilingual story teller for 40 years. Her ancestors lived in San Juan Capistrano, and she is a descendent of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians – The Acjachemen Nation. Frances expresses her love for her history, culture and passion for the arts by performing and teaching in small venues like libraries and for cultural events throughout Orange County. She believes music and the arts are important because they help children understand history and become patient, self disciplined, focused individuals.

Frances is teaching beginning music theory and piano to children who attend the free after school programs at the Bowers Museum’s Kidseum. The program is attended by children from the surrounding low income inner city neighborhood. Frances is also teaching music and piano at the Women’s Transitional Living Shelter. Women and children living in this shelter are victims of human trafficking or seeking to end violent relationships. Frances hopes her music programs will promote emotional and psychological healing for children and women who are recovering from lives of significant chaos and abuse.