MUSE • Musicians United for Social Equity

Biography

Josias Pilināmakaikaʻoiaʻiʻo Ka’upu-Fronda, better known as Pili, is a professional musician who was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Pili has been seen with nationally and internationally recognized artists including Keilana (R&B/Soul), Cory Oliveros, Imua Garza (Kimie Miner/Opihi Pickers/Independent), Christian Yrizarry (of Ho’onu’a), Bryan Duncan, Tommy Walker and Jody McBrayer (of Avalon) as well as a multitude of other artists and groups from both the East and West Coast of the United States (including Los Angeles, Nevada, Phoenix, Missouri, and Hawai’i). On top of his position as a musician, he has also held roles as a Music Director, Conductor and Associate Conductor, as well as Music Assistant in Theatre, Collegiate and Professional Sports scenarios (Game Day), and TV shows. During his time in Phoenix, Pili also played with groups including Samba De Cavalo (a professional Samba Ensemble), PHX Percussion (for the Phoenix Suns) as well as a plethora of gigs as a live percussionist and drummer while also working as a session drummer and producer. In fall of 2022, Pili played for the reading of the new musical, Blackout, written by Steven Gallagher and Anton Lipovetsky, at the NAMT festival at New World Stages in New York City. He is currently a Senior at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Pili is currently holding the drum chair for the 1st National Tour of the Broadway Musical, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’.