Lady Laritza Labouche
A native of Hawaiʻi, Lady Laritza “Lala” Labouche (T.J. Keanu Tario) is a multifaceted composer, pianist, Hawaiian cultural practitioner by day, and ballroom vogue drag artist by night. She is the first Kanaka Maoli graduate of The Juilliard School, in the classical piano division, and The California Institute of the Arts.
Her compositions have been performed by ensembles including the New York Youth Symphony, the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra & the Attacca String Quartet. Performances for the concert stage include 'Capriccio' for One Piano/Four Hands commissioned by the Aloha International Piano Festival, and premiered by Lisa Nakamichi and Jon Nakamatsu (Gold Medalist at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition). The score to short film 'A Fish Out of Water' (dir. Daniel Schloss) was the Official 2017 Winner of Boundless in Brooklyn: A 48 Hour Dance Film Contest, and premiered at the Cinéma Majestic Passy/Écrans de Paris.
As a pianist, she has won awards at competitions including the Virginia Waring International Competition, Aloha International Piano Competition, and the Stecher & Horowitz NY Piano Competition. Notable performances include NPR’s From the Top radio show, Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin Music Festival, Colorado College Music Festival, and Château de Fontainebleau in the Écoles d’Art Festival.
Film credits include The Jimmy Kimmel Show, HBOMax’s Generations, National commercials for ULTA Beauty & Nintendo Switch, and 'Crimson’s Cabaret' short film (featured Winner at the Cannes World Film Festival). In combating the stress and performance anxiety in the “serious arts” world, she has been able to express herself through the persona of Lady Laritza, giving her the freedom to express herself. By creating art in a nonconventional way, it gives a special voice to the marginalized BIPOC LGBT+ community. Being Māhū is an entity that lives within the trans/nonbinary community. Through her continued work within the arts, she strives to inspire others to live and create freely in their truths.
Recently, T.J. was a part-time faculty at The University of Southern California. In collaboration with esteemed playwright, Velina Hasu Houston, T.J. is workshopping a newly composed Hawaiian musical regarding the overthrow and imprisonment of Queen Liliʻuokalani. As a fellow of the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, she is creating a multi-disciplinary performance piece 'E aha ʻia ana ʻO Mauna Kea', That brings continued awareness to the Protect Mauna Kea movement, Hawaiian Sovereignty, and Aloha ʻĀina. As part of the iconic boutique House of Hervé Léger, more of her portfolio can be found on instagram @laritzalabouche and website www.tjkeanutario.com
