Tusa Montes is a percussionist, ethnomusicologist, and educator who specializes in the musics of the Philippines, Asia, West Africa, and Latin America. She graduated in 2012 with a MM Musicology degree at the University of the Philippines College of Music. She taught at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music for 10 years and is currently a Senior Lecturer at the UP College of Music. She has performed in various festivals in the Philippines and abroad, with notable local and international musicians such as Edsel Gomez, Dana Leong, Joe Bataan, royal hartigan, Bob Aves, Grace Nono, and Bo Razon.