Our Beginnings

The Drum Circle began as a healing Circle for our sister Margo who was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Drum Circle has been growing strong ever since - and Margo has had a remarkable recovery!

Vicki is the founder of the San Diego Women's Drum Circle, a drum event for women of all ages and walks of life that has been meeting monthly since 1998. Vicki is a native Californian who has been drumming and organizing drumming events for many years.

She began the study of the drum with Middle Eastern percussionist Frank Lazzaro. Vicki has completed facilitation workshops with world-renowned drummer and Drum Circle facilitator Paulo Mattioli. Vicki is currently a student of Tam Tam Mandingue School of Percussion in San Diego.

Vicki is a cheery soul who believes in the power of the drum to heal, and its ability to bring people together through rhythm while having fun making music. Vicki is a National Certified Licensed Massage Therapist and she lives in San Diego, California.

Elisa leads the Drum Classes that are held before the Circles. She studied music on a full music scholarship at Texas Tech University, graduated cum laude from Arizona State University and earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Creighton University.

Elisa has been facilitating Rhythm Circles and Drumming Events, for all age groups, for over 10 years. She has facilitated workshops for Community Colleges, Universities and Retreats. Elisa has organized and performed with drumming ensembles and dance troupes for special events and large festivals. She has drummed for several Middle Eastern and tribal dance performance groups and was the musical director for Circadian Rhythm and the Lotus Dancers, a performance art and percussion ensemble of women.

Elisa has studied Japanese Taiko and Middle Eastern drumming and has most seriously studied African drumming. She first studied with Abdoulaye Sylla, Abou Sylla, and Alisco Diabate, drumming artists with Ballet Africans of Guinea, West Africa. Since 2001, she has been a student of Monette Marino, director of Tam Tam Mandingue San Diego School of Percussion, founded by Mamady Keita of Guinea, West Africa.

Elisa performs with several drumming ensembles and plays for local African dance classes. She practices law in San Diego, California.