ZULY INIRIO
CREATIVE PRODUCER
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Zuly E. Inirio, DMA, LSW is a Creative Producer, opera singer, scholar, and cultural strategist whose work lives at the intersection of art, community building, and social transformation. A dynamic multi-hyphenate, she is known for weaving together performance, storytelling, advocacy, and organizing to create experiences that foster connection, belonging, and cultural liberation.
As the Founder & Executive Director of Instituto Cimarrón, Dr. Inirio leads groundbreaking initiatives such as the Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project, Art in Healing, and Art Equit Alliance, all of which center the voices and legacies of marginalized communities of color. Her creative vision is guided by a deep belief that art is not only a form of expression but a tool for collective memory, healing, and social change.
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A sought-after performer and collaborator, she has appeared nationally and internationally—including in Verdi’s Requiem in Munich and Aida in Sicily—and is celebrated for projects that blend disciplines, such as the immersive triptych Requiem for Black Grief, the forthcoming opera Counter Current, and her 2025 Carnegie Hall debut recital, Cantos de Quisqueya. Across these works, she brings together artists, scholars, organizers, and community members to explore identity, liberation, and the transformative power of cultural storytelling.
As a licensed social worker and facilitator, Dr. Inirio integrates somatics, strengths-based leadership, and trauma-informed practice into her creative producing. She has partnered with organizations such as Lincoln Center, Duolingo, SphinxLEAD, 1Hood Media, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Center for Ethnic Studies Research to design programs that uplift community voice and expand possibilities for BIPOC artists and cultural workers.
Whether producing artistic work, curating conversations, or designing community-rooted initiatives, Dr. Inirio’s mission remains constant: to build bridges across disciplines and movements, to amplify the stories of diasporic communities, and to create collaborative spaces where art becomes a catalyst for connection, empowerment, and social impact.
Current as of December 16, 2025
REPRESENTATIVES
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