When They Were Young: Children's Songwriter and Performer Flor Bromley

By Eileen Sherman

Flor Bromley

Flor, I know that you were born and raised in Lima, Peru. Do you have siblings, and were they musical? And what about your parents? Were they also musicians? I’m guessing there was lots of music in the house, but was playing an instrument mandatory, or did you naturally gravitate to one in particular?

No. No one in my family was a professional musician, and I’m the first person in my family to learn to play an instrument. I’m also an only child, so there weren’t siblings to jam with, but my parents loved music. There was always music playing in the house. My dad had a radio alarm clock that would wake us up with music every morning. We took turns choosing the station. It was our little family ritual.

One of my earliest and most vivid memories of music is when my parents bought me a tiny, battery-powered piano. It was about the size of my hand. Even though I didn’t know anything about music theory, I was fascinated by it. The notes had numbers instead of letters, and I ended up composing a little tune using those numbers, something like “112432325.” I was four years old and creating music before I even knew what songwriting was.

Baby Flor in Lima, Peru

When my mom noticed I had an ear for music and could sing, she tried to enroll me in voice lessons. They were very operatic in style, and I was more into rock music at the time. It didn’t quite click. We tried the piano next, but we didn’t have one at home, so I got a keyboard instead. Formal lessons were too expensive, so I mostly taught myself. Then, when I was 14, I got a white guitar for my birthday. I had a couple of private lessons, but mostly I learned on my own. One of the first songs I learned to play was “La Bamba.”

I know that your career includes both musical theater and puppetry. So, were you that little girl who always entertained everyone in your living room and was the star of all the school plays? And what musical theater shows were your most significant influences as a little girl? Should we assume that dance training was thrown into the mix?

I was far from being the star of school musicals; my school didn’t even have musicals! The closest I got was a solo in a Christmas concert during elementary school. I remember being so shy and nervous about messing up, and there was a lot of drama around who got the solo. I didn’t want anyone to be upset with me, so after that, I retreated to “my mirror performances” and entertained my imaginary audience.

Puppetry became a bigger part of my life later on, but even as a kid, I had a pink puppet I bought at a street market. I used to bring it out at family gatherings and perform silly little songs. People loved it, but in Peru, puppetry wasn’t considered a career path, so it was just a fun hobby back then.

Flor performing in a school event in Peru

Growing up in Peru during a time of social unrest and terrorism, my parents were cautious about letting me pursue anything in entertainment. They were wary of theaters and concerts, which were considered potential targets for attack. Still, they would occasionally take me to the children's theater as a reward for good behavior. That was my introduction to live performance, but I didn’t know what a musical was until I came to New York as an exchange student at the age of 17. The first show I saw was Les Misérables, and I instantly fell in love with it. It had everything: acting, singing, dancing. It felt like home.

Before that, my only formal performance training was in traditional dances, such as Marinera and Flamenco. Around the age of 12, I joined a summer theater program that lasted for a full year. My parents were nervous because they didn’t see acting as a “real” profession. They were hoping I’d pursue something more practical. The only musical they knew was Hair, and they were convinced I’d end up as a hippie living in a van!

Growing up, I loved musicals on TV, such as The Sound of Music and Sister Act. Mostly, I watched music videos and imagined myself as the star, creating songs and choreography in my head. I didn’t have any formal training until I was a pre-teen.

You have a natural, joyful exuberance when you perform. As a young girl, did you have any exceptional performers whom you wanted to emulate, or a special puppeteer who inspired your style?

Thank you! Yes, when I was about three years old, I loved singing in front of the big mirror in my grandparents' living room. I would pretend I was Daniela Romo, a famous Mexican singer known for her long hair, just like I had. I’d flip my hair dramatically and imagine I was on stage performing for thousands. It was my favorite thing to do. Those little performances planted a seed that grew into my career today.

So, you began playing guitar at 14. Do you have any fond or funny childhood memories of music teachers?

Honestly, I was inspired by Shakira’s first Spanish-language albums. I loved her songwriting style, and like any teenage girl navigating emotions and heartbreak, I found writing songs incredibly cathartic. After just a few lessons, I had learned three chords and written my first songs about crushes and breakups.

Flor at a school concert

Growing up, formal music education wasn’t readily accessible. Music in school meant playing the recorder. No one knew much beyond that. I leaned more into acting at the time because it felt safer. Performing with a group was less intimidating than singing a solo, especially since I was self-conscious about my voice. But over time, I found my confidence. Today, performing for live audiences is one of my greatest joys.

Did you know that when you were a little girl, you aspired to be part of the professional music world? Did you dream about appearing on professional stages around the world and winning awards like your Latin Grammy nomination, or did you just put all your talents together as a young adult and create the remarkable career you have now?

As a young child, it was one of my dreams, but I didn’t think it was achievable. I was very shy about my voice. I didn’t like the way it sounded sometimes. I always had a child-like voice, even as a child. So I packed up all my creative energy and poured it into acting. I earned a degree in theater education and loved it.

But the dream started to feel possible when I discovered musical theater. I researched programs, applied for a grant, and came to New York to audition. I told my parents, “I’m going to do this, with or without your financial support.” Thankfully, they supported me, and I also received a scholarship, which was a turning point.

While I was in New York doing the musical theater hustle, I stumbled into the world of children’s music. In Peru, I had already been involved in storytelling and songwriting for kids as part of my work with the Ministry of Education, performing in schools and libraries. So it wasn’t entirely new, but something clicked. I started writing my songs, recorded a debut album, and released it independently on Spotify. I had no PR, no connections, but that album led to performances in libraries, museums, and venues across New York City. That’s when I realized: this is where I’m meant to be. It took time, exploration, and courage, but I couldn’t be happier with where the journey has led me: connecting with young audiences, sharing stories, and celebrating culture through music.