Marilena was born in 1964 in Táriba, Estado Táchira, Venezuela, and raised in nearby San Cristóbal city. She is a trained architect with expertise in innovative construction systems, including training both designers and end users in their application. In addition, she holds a certification as a bilingual teacher, is a business owner, and an active real estate investor. Music has always been an essential part of Marilena’s life. She grew up in a family of musicians: her father was the third generation of musicians and the founder of the renowned Grupo Raíces de Venezuela, while her grandfather was an orchestra director and creator of the famous choir Navidad Feliz. As a child, Marilena dreamed of one day singing with that choir. Following her father’s footsteps, she began playing the mandolin at age 10. She performed in her elementary and middle school estudiantinas and co-founded Grupo Raicillas, a youth string ensemble. In high school, she joined the Liceo Simón Bolívar Choir, an experience that deepened her passion for choral singing. While completing her architecture studies at Universidad Nacional Experimental del Tachira, she sang under the direction of Rubén Rivas and competed at the same level as the prestigious Orfeón Universitario of the Universidad Central de Venezuela. Later, while living in Caracas, she performed Venezuelan Christmas music with former members of the Orfeón Universitario. Since January 2020, Marilena has been a proud alto in the Hispanic Choir of Houston under the direction of maestro Cruz Cabrera, continuing a lifelong devotion to music and community.