Gavas was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, one of two children and the only daughter of Phoebe Adap-Gavas and Armando B. Gavas. Music was an important activity that involved her extended family, many of whom sang and played the piano, guitar or violin. From her earliest years, she wanted to be a music teacher.

Gavas graduated from the academy at AUP in 2000 and then enrolled as a music major at the university with piano for her performance area. During her first three years, she was the accompanist for the AUP Ambassadors Choral Arts Society, directed by Ramon "Bojo" Lijuauco, and in her last four years sang in that group.

In July 2006, the ACAS won first place in the Gospel-Spiritual category of the World Choir Games competition held in Xiamen, China, the best any choir from the Philippines had ever done in that event, which in that year featured over 400 choirs from 47 countries. They also won medals in Musica Sacra and mixed chamber categories. The group, which travels extensively, performs frequently with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Following graduation from AUP in 2007 with a B.Mus. in piano, Gavas enrolled at AU, where she completed an M.Mus. in music education. She studied organ under Kenneth Logan and was a music history graduate assistant under Lilianne Doukhan. Her master's project was titled "Seventh-day Adventist Doctrines in Seventh-day Adventist Hymnody, from its Beginnings to Today."

Gavas graduated from AU in 2010 and then enrolled as a student in the Health Evangelism program at Wildwood College in Georgia, where she also assists in music activities.

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