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alemamani · 2 years

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“In short: I felt my existence was tainted, in some subtle but essential way.”

ALEJANDRA MAMANI

Age: 30 Gender and pronouns: Female, She/Her Occupation: Concert Pianist Neighborhood: Rittenhouse

BIOGRAPHY

tw: accident, injury, depression

By the age of two Alejandra Mamani could play the piano and she could read music before she could read words. The youngest daughter of two PhD holders was educated at home, finding the pace of school to be too slow and not conducive to her depth of imagination and creativity. When the girl was four years of age she’d already begun improvising on the piano, and just a year later she’d composed her first sonata. The term prodigy was attached to Alejandra and her name rose to fame in her home country of Colombia, performing on grand stages and television. By the age of ten she’d composed her first full-length opera and began performing piano concertos around the world on all the biggest stages. She was winning awards and hearts, receiving multiple standing ovations, and slowly lost sight of what it was to be a kid.

When she was sixteen, Alejandra was admitted to the conducting degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, her entire family moving abroad with her as she continued her climb to greatness and history. As she reached into her teenage years, Alejandra really began to feel boxed in by the focus on her age and the comparisons she received to the likes of legendary piano powerhouses. What she wanted desperately was to be her own person and for audiences and critics alike to focus on her music rather than anything else. In the media the attention she received was more about the astonishment of her age than the actual accomplishments, and the never ending comparisons to other pianists and composers wore on the thick skin she had yet to build. The world constantly questioned and tested her talents and despite her achievements, Alejandra was always having to prove herself.

Upon graduation and the completion of another world tour, Alejandra and her family left Austria. Returned to Colombia, the young twenty-something rebelled against her constantly scheduled and very structured life. Aching for some independence and to experience many of the things she’d always catch her friends posting on Instagram about, she ran off with her best friend. They drove north to America on a loosely mirrored Thelma and Louise adventure sans the crime, and Alejandra stayed on the road living in one place or another for a couple to a few months at a time. She dated, got drunk at a bar, went off-roading in the desert, knew what it was to feel the rush of fleeting things when young and wild. Eventually Alejandra made her way home and sought the forgiveness of her parents, who had been terrified of her tarnishing her image or somehow falling from grace in her career.

Before her move to Philadelphia, Alejandra had played on the biggest and most famed stages around the world, but she wanted a break from constantly touring and always being on the go. An arrangement was made with the Philadelphia Orchestra for Alejandra to perform a residency, where she’d compose concertos and operas for a set number of shows a year. Of all the times she had visited Philadelphia and moved her fingers across the keys at the symphony, she’d always wanted to at least live in the city for at least a few years. The first year of shows had been so successful that a further contract had been set for an additional two years. Alejandra played her heart out and composed music from her soul, finding escape into it when heartbreak turned her world upside down for a while. Some reviews even said that she gave her most passionate performances during that time.

With an unfaithful ex in her wake, Alejandra was ready to do some touring again. Philadelphia had begun to feel a little suffocating due to the wounds her heart had taken on. However, it was an escape from the limelight that could potentially cost her everything. A runaway trip to the alps with a few friends she was involved in an accident that hurt her left hand. She did everything she could to avoid surgery but her hand wouldn’t get any better, the joints ached at just about any pressure and movement. It was risky, undergoing surgery that could completely put an end to the one thing that truly moved her in life, but little by little improvement has begun to give Alejandra hope. Depression took her down hard, suddenly thrust into the world of what if she couldn’t play the piano anymore. What would she do with her life then? It’s something she struggles with as she tries to push healing with big contracts and opportunities looming.

ALEJANDRA MAMANI has the face claim of SOPHIA CARSON and is played by CHANDLER.

#{ give me ten minutes let me bare my soul ; biography }

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alemamani · 2 years

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#{ this is the face i wear treading the riptide ; visage }

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alemamani · 2 years

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Even after calling Philadelphia home for more than a few years now, Alejandra still felt as though she were getting to know the city. It was a slow process for her, most of her time was spent composing and rehearsing, then performing. She was a perfectionist, and that meant giving precious time to the details and making sure that when she put her fingers to the keys before an audience that they were moved. Sometimes the brunette could be so obsessive that Ale had to schedule time to do other things. Like going outside, finding her way around the city, and being apart of some social interaction.

Today, it was a revisit to The Franlin Insistute. With her left hand carefully tucked away in the pocket of her coat, her eyes wandered as her feet slowly carried her around. One of the things that had always made her the saddest when she was doing tours and shows around the world was the fact that sometimes she didn't have the time to actually go out and see much of whatever city she was in. Hearing the excitement of the boy, Ale offered a smile to the woman she assumed to be his mother attempting to rein him in a little. "If we could all still be so excited about these things, right?"

where: the franklin institute

when: mid-day

who: @philly-starters | anyone, please assume connections!

[ tw: brief mentions of domestic abuse ]

Tyndall stuck out like a sore thumb in a place like this. In places like this. Maybe it wasn't as obvious to everyone else that she lacked the finesse, or interest and understanding, to enjoy a center of science and education. But to her, her appearance screamed out-of-place, no matter how gussied up she'd tried to appear before she left the house. Today, as part of the hours that she spent at the women's shelter, she was playing chaperone to a young man whose mother needed some time with a medical consultant, and local authorities.

Things that the boy didn't need to be privy too.

Luckily he'd taken to Tyndall right away, giving her the opportunity to take him out and treat him to a nice day. Something his mother was infinitely grateful to her for. The institute was the place he had chosen, having an affinity for all things science and mathematics. The entire institution was a wonder in and of itself; and in some ways, left the woman in total awe. She had long grown used to the side-eyed glares, and questionable glances.

The building was for everyone, not just the bougie and elitist, and that was how she'd convinced herself to walk through the door without immediately minimizing herself.

"Look, LOOK, TYN!" the boy, barely 9, yelled as he grabbed her hand and tugged her along. "Did you see the sign? This way to Space Command!" It was up to her now to make sure the two of them didn't plow over anyone and everything in their path to outer space.

#{ interactions ; tyndall scott }

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alemamani · 2 years

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NAME: Alejandra Mamani

AGE: Thirty

GENDER/PRONOUNS: Cis female ; she/her

OCCUPATION: Concert pianist & composer

BIRTHPLACE: Barranquilla, Colombia

NEIGHBORHOOD: Rittenhouse

LENGTH OF TIME IN PHILADELPHIA: 4 years

“In short: I felt my existence was tainted, in some subtle but essential way.”

ABOUT:

Trigger Warnings: accident, injury, depression

By the age of two she could play the piano and she could read music before she could read words.

Was homeschooled.

At four years of age she’d already begun improvising on the piano, and just a year later she’d composed her first sonata.

The term prodigy was attached to Alejandra and her name rose to fame in her home country of Colombia, performing on grand stages and television.

By the age of ten she’d composed her first full-length opera and began performing piano concertos around the world on all the biggest stages. She was winning awards and hearts, receiving multiple standing ovations, and slowly lost sight of what it was to be a kid.

When she was sixteen, Alejandra was admitted to the conducting degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, her entire family moved abroad with her as she continued her climb to greatness and history.

Reaching her teenage years, Alejandra really began to feel boxed in by the focus on her age and the comparisons she received to the likes of legendary piano powerhouses. What she wanted desperately was to be her own person and for audiences and critics alike to focus on her music rather than anything else. In the media the attention she received was more about the astonishment of her age than the actual accomplishments, and the never ending comparisons to other pianists and composers wore on the thick skin she had yet to build.

The world constantly questioned and tested her talents and despite her achievements, Alejandra was always having to prove herself.

Upon graduation and the completion of another world tour, Alejandra and her family left Austria. Returned to Colombia, the young twenty-something rebelled against her constantly scheduled and very structured life.

Aching for some independence and to experience many of the things she’d always catch her friends posting on Instagram about, she ran off with her best friend. They drove north to America on a loosely mirrored Thelma and Louise adventure sans the crime, and Alejandra stayed on the road living in one place or another for a couple to a few months at a time.

She dated, got drunk at a bar, went off-roading in the desert, knew what it was to feel the rush of fleeting things when young and wild.

Eventually Alejandra made her way home and sought the forgiveness of her parents, who had been terrified of her tarnishing her image or somehow falling from grace in her career.

Before her move to Philadelphia, Alejandra had played on the biggest and most famed stages around the world, but she wanted a break from constantly touring and always being on the go.

An arrangement was made with the Philadelphia Orchestra for Alejandra to perform a residency, where she’d compose concertos and operas for a set number of shows a year.

The first year of shows had been so successful that a further contract had been set for an additional two years.

Alejandra played her heart out and composed music from her soul, finding escape into it when heartbreak turned her world upside down for a while. Some reviews even said that she gave her most passionate performances during that time.

With an unfaithful ex in her wake, Alejandra was ready to do some touring again.

Philadelphia had begun to feel a little suffocating due to the wounds her heart had taken on. However, it was an escape from the limelight that could potentially cost her everything.

A runaway trip to the alps with a few friends she was involved in an accident that hurt her left hand. She did everything she could to avoid surgery but her hand wouldn’t get any better, the joints ached at just about any pressure and movement.

It was risky, undergoing surgery that could completely put an end to the one thing that truly moved her in life, but little by little improvement has begun to give Alejandra hope.

Depression took her down hard, suddenly thrust into the world of what if she couldn’t play the piano anymore. What would she do with her life then? It’s something she struggles with as she tries to push healing with big contracts and opportunities looming.

POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS:

Case of the ex — Her first experience at love and a committed relationship. They began dating shortly after she arrived in Philadelphia and were together just over two years until they were unfaithful to her. In the period following the breakup and heartbreak, some reviews claimed she gave some of her most passionate performances.

Art lovers unite — One Ale’s favorite things to do is visit art galleries and openings. Having friends or some fellow appreciators to attend these events would be ideal for her. Someone/s she could talk with about the art and even better if they could teach her things about it!

Free concerts — A neighbor that gets to hear Ale at her piano regularly as she practices and composes music. As a world class musician it’s a real treat to not have to pay the ticket prices for her concertos.

Tinderly — Since her break up nearly two years ago Ale’s friends have persuaded her to make a Tinder profile and she occasionally goes on dates. She loves dating and loves meeting people. They don’t always go well but can be fun! Gender doesn’t matter!

Siblings — The Mamani family has always been close and Ale’s siblings often traveled with her when she was younger for shows. Having one or both in Paris would be amazing!

#phillyintro #{ introduction ; alejandra mamani }#{ pinned post }

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alemamani · 2 years

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A popular, bustling city — Ale never once assumed the table she’d managed to get all to herself would remain so throughout her coffee time. The male’s approach, however, well, the brunette hadn’t expected it to come so sheepishly. Nor had she expected all the gesturing, to the point where she became concerned that he’d lose his snack and would end up wearing that drink. Ale’s hands rose up, gingerly following his movements, ready to react in a reflex should the balance be lost. “Please, join me, and don’t ever pay anyone for something like this. I beg you. Humanity is completely done for the moment we fall that far that we charge someone to share a table with us at a public place.” To make things easier with full gesturing hands, the pianist pushed the chair out just across from her with her foot a bit. “Sit. No Venmo needed.”

“Do you need me to take one of those things off your hands for a moment so you can get settled?” Almost protectively, with the prospect of having to handle something, Ale let her injured hand ease back to her lap where it had been before. Hidden safely under the table and protected from potential harm. It was almost as though she thought people could see the hand worth millions wasn’t in good condition. Even if her injury didn’t show on the surface. When you had a secret, suspicious eyes wandered thinking everyone knew. “Come on now, before someone bolder pushes you out of the way,” Ale winked.

Location: Green Street Coffee Co.

Tags: @philly-starters

With a gentle nod and an almost remorseful smile, Alexander grabbed his order from the overworked barista in turn; blue eyes scanning the packed venue to later focus on his phone to check the hour. He had exactly 95 minutes before his meeting on a building nearby the coffee shop and even though technically he could leave home and get back in time for his meeting— it seemed absurd to even try and do so. His next move, upon seeing just how packed the place was, was finding the nearest park and waiting there, let the city sounds create a lullaby to soothe him into forgetting he was anxious about the meeting in the first place and, had the weather not made it impossible, he would’ve chosen that scenario. As far as his overworked, jittery brain could think, staying in the coffee shop was his most viable option, even if it was starting to feel like a hazard the number of people inside.

Before all hope was lost, however, from the corner of his eye, the answer to his prayers arrived in the form of an empty chair on a table with only one other soul. With a decisive breath, he approached the half-empty table, one hand holding onto a ceramic cup while the other, kept a baked good resting on a similar ceramic plate. He shot the other a bashful smile as he bowed his head with outmost respect, feeling like high school all over again. “Sorry— is this seat taken?” he inquired, pointing with one finger at the seat in question, before drifting his eyes to at the crowd as if trying to prove a point, only to return his attention to the other. “All the rest are. I am willing to pay” he assured the other, trying to keep his order from spilling over the floor while simultaneously gesturing with his hands at every word, an old habit of his. “I don’t have money on me but you are welcomed to order anything from the menu or just give me your…” he faltered, trying to remember the name of the money-exchanging app he had just learned about a couple years ago. “Thing ID, to transfer the money” he shook his head at himself. “I’ll make it double for whatever that was.”