Meet Jairamarie Carranza: The Filipina teen from Fujairah who performed at Carnegie Hall

Jairamarie Yzabel Carranza performs at Carnegie Hall in New York City. SUPPLIED

At just 15 years old, Jairamarie Yzabel Carranza has already checked off something that most musicians only dream about: performing at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. Not bad for a homeschooled teen from Fujairah, right? But Jairamarie’s journey started way before that—on a coffee table, to be exact. “I used to climb up on our coffee table and perform random songs I made up, usually in gibberish,” she tells Expat Media with a laugh. “Even at that age, I already felt so happy just being able to express myself through music.” Her official stage debut? Her 7th birthday party. “I was singing in about five different keys and probably a few different tempos too!” she admits. But it wasn’t about perfection—it was about joy. And when she entered her first real competition in 2021, the Young Talent Music Competition, the nerves hit hard. “My hands were sweating, my heart was racing,” she says. Her mom gave her a piece of advice that stuck: “Make sure to calm those butterflies and make friends with them, because those butterflies will take you up the sky, or else mess with them and they’ll drop you.” Spoiler alert: Jairamarie made friends with the butterflies—and took home 3rd place. But it was her 2024 Carnegie Hall recital as a winner in the American Protégé competition that became her most unforgettable performance. “It felt like something straight out of a dream,” she says. “I remember walking into the hall and thinking, Wow... this is actually happening.” And yes, she got to experience snow in New York, see Times Square, and meet fellow young artists from around the world—some of whom she still chats with today. “It never felt like we were competing. Everyone was just cheering each other on.” Despite the big stages and shiny awards, Jairamarie’s biggest dream is beautifully simple: “If my voice had a superpower, it would be the power to heal. Like when you’re feeling down and a song makes you feel better. I want my voice to feel like a warm hug.” That kind of kindness and humility shines in her advice to other young performers in the UAE who might be too shy to take the stage. “Start small. Start scared. Just start,” she says. “You don’t need to wait to feel confident to chase the spotlight.” She knows what it feels like to mess up, too. “I was singing off key and off tempo because I couldn’t hear the music,” she shares about a difficult performance. But instead of hiding the experience, she used it to comfort another girl who broke down backstage after going through the same thing. In Jairamarie’s world, music isn’t just about applause—it’s about connection. With her family cheering her on (shoutout to her aunts who custom-make her performance gowns), her school offering platforms to perform, and the UAE giving space for young talents to shine, she’s proof that courage, community, and a whole lot of heart can take your dreams to global stages—and back home again.

Q&A with Jairamarie

Do you remember the first time you sang on stage? I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. When I was about 3 or 4 years old, I used to climb up on our coffee table and perform random songs I made up, usually in gibberish… Even at that age, I already felt so happy just being able to express myself through music. Tell us about your first public performance. I joined the Young Talent Music Competition in 2021. That was the first time I sang on stage for an actual competition. I remember how nervous I was before my first audition. My hands were sweating, my heart was racing, and for the first time ever, I felt butterflies in my stomach… My mom said, 'Make sure to calm those butterflies and make friends with them, because those butterflies will take you up the sky, or else mess with them and they’ll drop you.' You've won big international awards– what's been your favorite performance so far? If I really had to choose, I’d say my winner’s recital for the American Protégé competition at Carnegie Hall in December 2024 is the one that sticks with me the most. Performing at Carnegie Hall felt like something straight out of a dream. Knowing that so many legendary Filipino artists like Lea Salonga had stood there gave me goosebumps. If your voice had a superpower, what would it be? I would want my voice to be like a warm hug that people can carry with them even after the song ends. What would you tell other young performers in the UAE who are too shy to chase the spotlight? To everyone who’s scared to take that first step, I’d say this: Start small. Start scared. Just start… You don’t have to be the loudest or the boldest to shine.

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