Grammy-Winning Artist Erika ‘Kika’ Parra Honored with Proclamation by North Bergen Township for Musical Achievements

North Bergen, New Jersey – Erika “Kika” Parra, a Grammy Award-winning artist and a resident of North Bergen, was recently honored by the township with a proclamation for her outstanding musical achievements. The ceremony was held on Wednesday, March 8th, and recognized Parra’s contribution to the entertainment industry.

Parra received three Grammy Awards for her participation in the recording of the Disney movie “Encanto,” for which she also won an Oscar Award. Mayor Nick Sacco praised Parra’s exceptional talent and hard work, stating that her awards were a testament to her dedication to music. He expressed his pride in having Parra as one of North Bergen’s residents and commended her achievements.

Parra, a Lincoln School and North Bergen High School graduate, developed her passion for music at a young age, and her talent and dedication earned her widespread recognition and praise. She started playing percussion at the age of thirteen under her father’s guidance and later studied with Moris Canate, her musical mentor and Rebolu bandmate. She also studied and performed with both the Colombian and Latin Jazz ensembles at the Boys & Girls Harbor Conservancy in New York under the direction of Pablo Mayor and Louis Bauzo.

Dr. George Solter, the North Bergen Board of Education Superintendent, congratulated Parra on her many accomplishments, expressing his pride in seeing a former student achieve such lofty heights. He wished her continued success in the future.

Parra’s contributions to the music industry extend beyond her work on the silver screen. She has performed at numerous festivals and events, including the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montana Folk Festival, Richmond Folk Festival, Lincoln Center Outdoors, Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Kimmel Center, SXSW, Mundial Montreal, Carnaval de Barranquilla, the Library of Congress, Getty Center, Hollywood Bowl, and many more.

Parra graduated from Berklee College of Music with a BM in Music Education and has since worked and collaborated with FolkColombia, center for Traditional Music and Dance, Folklore Urbano, Gregorio Uribe Big Band, La Cumbiamba Eneye, Mestizo Dance Compan, Toto La Momposina, Sonia de Los Santos, Ruben Rodriguez, Miss Yaya, and C&C Music Factory. She is currently teaching at Avenues: The World School.

The township of North Bergen is proud of Parra’s achievements and honored to have her as a resident. The proclamation ceremony is a testament to the hard work, talent, and dedication that Parra has invested in her musical career.