Jhu Maani Chess contributions in the field of music continue to grow.

The senior at Cajon High School in San Bernardino is in a musical family, after all.

“Performing is not just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle, a calling, an anointing,” he said. “My mom wasted no time in telling me about this world and what it has to offer, the light which was mesmerizing with magic and wonders, which could be discovered if you knew where to look, and the other, which is the dark enigmatic depth which lies under the surface. There was one particular saying, she said, ‘You’re either light or dark, nothing in between.’ Now knowing this, I decided to only bring light into everything I do.”

During Jhu Maani’s first few years participating in the performing arts, he would dance and participate in any extracurricular activities he could.

Determined to make the world smile as much as he did, he attended events in the community, along with my mom, and performed whenever possible. He managed to participate in all the festivals and events San Bernardino had to offer. On multiple occasions, he was invited to dress up in fruit costumes and dance to get the crowd involved and comfortable while learning about nutrition. Jhu Maani soon realized, little by little, these experiences were pushing him into entertainment.

Being in a musical family, it was only appropriate that Jhu Maani played Disney non-stop.

Along with his family, they sang all the classics and from there it only got better, he said.

His first song, which occurred at a very young age, was “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” from “The Lion King.” This song was the kick-starter for a future of entertainment. Along the way, he was introduced to a performance group called Teen Music workshop where they provided him with lessons — from instruments to vocals.