Miss Lola – Music & Arts Assistant

Known to her students as Miss Lola, Marlena is a dynamic artist, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, entertainer, and music producer with a passion for inspiring creativity and joy through music. Dedicated to making the world a brighter and more imaginative place, she is now bringing that vibrant musical energy to the Gilbert community.

Though still in her twenties, Marlena has already released two original full-length albums, with a third on the way. Her musical journey has led to exciting opportunities, including collaborating with Monkey, front-man of punk icons The Adicts, on their duet single “Without You,” and opening for The Adicts in 2016 at the House of Blues—just a year after graduating high school. She released her debut record in 2018 at age 21, followed by her second album in 2024, marking important milestones in her artistic career.

The ukulele has had a profound impact on her life, inspiring not only her deep passion for music but also the creation of her musical persona, Ukulena—a reflection of the joy and creativity the instrument brings, as well as a blend of her name, Marlena, and her main instrument, the ukulele. Through her work, she hopes to inspire younger artists to dream big and believe in their potential, holding true to the words of Audrey Hepburn:

“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’.”

And Selena Quintanilla-Pérez:

“Always believe that the impossible is always possible.”