I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Mirna Rubim in 2004 at UNIRIO in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on my very first day as a Voice Performance student at the college level, when she became my assigned voice teacher. Over time, she not only guided me in developing my vocal technique but also became a valued friend and professional collaborator, and despite my move to the United States in 2012, we have remained in touch through platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp.

On March 19, 2026, Dr. Rubim presented her show “Inteira” at Blue Note Rio, a performance that blended elements of cabaret, comedy, and personal reflections on her artistic journey, and featured guest performers. Approximately two months prior, I reached out to inquire whether she planned to include an original composition, and upon learning that she had begun drafting lyrics, I offered to compose the music, which led to the creation of the song “Inteira”, ultimately performed during the show. While the live performance encountered some challenges, including moments of improvisation and humor, I remain sincerely grateful for the opportunity to have my work presented in my home country.

For those interested, the performance can be viewed here (at 45:30): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IylvN5PrFEA

Additional information about Dr. Rubim is available at https://linktr.ee/mirnarubim