The future of jazz is brighter than ever!
Thanks to the generous support of CCAASE, Telluride Foundation, Raynier Institute and Foundation, Peter & Sharon Bell, Jack Kotz and Teddy Errico, the Telluride Society for Jazz is thrilled to present an incredible lineup of artists from the Telluride Student All-Star Jazz Ensemble. Joins us in welcoming this round of students!
Telluride Student All-Stars Jazz Ensemble
The Telluride Student All-Stars Jazz Ensemble is a revolving group of exceptionally talented young musicians who come together to showcase their passion and commitment to jazz music. Handpicked from a pool of aspiring artists, this ensemble represents the best of the best. These individuals demonstrate remarkable skill, creativity, and versatility in their performances. The group will perform around town the week leading up to the festival weekend, and are then rewarded with an opening performance on the Town Park stage.
2025 Schedule
Tuesday August 5
6:45 PM - 9:30 PM New Sheridan Historic Bar
Wednesday, August 6
6:45 PM - 9:30 PM New Sheridan Historic Bar
Saturday, August 9
12:00 - 1:00 PM Main Stage
Meet The 2025 All-Stars
Alexa Cornejo
Bass & vocals (Eugene, OR)
Alexa Cornejo is a double bassist and singer-songwriter from Eugene, OR. She discovered her love for jazz after joining jazz band her junior year of high school. Towards the end of her junior year, after consistent practice and an idea from her band teacher, she formed her own piano trio and started playing local gigs and events. Throughout the course of the school year, the trio entered multiple jazz festivals around Oregon and placed 1st in the Combo Division at each one. They ended the year with the 1st place win at the Oregon State Jazz Band Championships. In January, she was selected as a member of the OMEA All State Treble Choir alongside other great singers from across Oregon. She is also the recipient of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame: Women in Music Scholarship and was awarded scholarships for academics and music from the University of Oregon.
Alexa’s influences span across multiple genres from the likes of Christian McBride, Esperanza Spalding, Sza, Elliot Smith, and Adele. She will continue her studies in music by pursuing a degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon this fall.
Daniel Trujillo
Vibraphone (Westminster, CO)
Daniel Trujillo is an 18-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Westminster, Colorado. Raised by musical parents and taught luthiery in his family’s violin shop Mi Vida Strings, his musical life started early on as a small yet surprisingly hard-hitting conga player. At age 7, Daniel joined the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts (CCJA), where he spent over a decade growing both musically and personally under the wings of artists such as Greg Gisbert, Paul Romaine, Annie Booth, and Brad Goode. By 8, he was performing with salsa bands and appeared live on KUVO Jazz, and at 12 began a self-taught vibraphone career, studying the works of Cal Tjader and Tito Puente. By 16, Daniel had debuted his own band—Daniel Trujillo’s Latin Vibes—bringing sold-out seats and his contagious smile to Denver’s premier jazz club, Dazzle.
His joy for music and collaboration also shines through in his career as a violinist, having recently completed a 10-year stay with the Front Range Youth Symphony, both as a member and concerto competition winner—the first and only to do so with a Latin jazz-with-strings arrangement.
Daniel is an active member of the Denver music community and now continues his studies with Victor Mestas and the faculty of CU Boulder, recently performing with seven-time Grammy Award winner Maria Schneider.
Madhav Ramprasad
Ato sax (San Diego, CA)
Madhav is a 16-year-old saxophonist from San Diego, California. As a student of the esteemed Young Lions Jazz Conservatory under the direction of Gilbert Castellanos, Madhav is committed to refining his voice and immersing himself in the rich language of jazz. Whether it be rehearsing with combos, studying recordings, or performing live, Madhav thrives in environments that challenge him to grow and surround him with others who share his deep love for music. He is deeply inspired by players like Cannonball Adderley, Jackie Mclean, Bird, and his teacher, Christopher Hollyday. Madhav was recently accepted into the California All-State Jazz Ensemble, where he and high schoolers across California performed numerous big band charts in Sacramento. Outside of music, Madhav enjoys hanging out with friends, watching movies, and spending time with his husky. As a musician, he is always eager to keep learning, listening, and absorbing the world of jazz.
Miri Izenberg
Trumpet & vocals (Irvine, CA)
Miri Izenberg is a trumpet player and vocalist based in Southern California. She is a rising senior at the Orange County School of the Arts, where she is a member of the jazz conservatory. A performer in both jazz and classical groups, Miri has earned national recognition, including a DownBeat Student Music Award for vocal solo performance and multiple honors from the Essentially Ellington Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
She performs as a part of the Ambassador Jazz Orchestra and the Colburn Jazz Workshop, and leads her own quintet, featured at the 2025 Newport Beach Jazz Festival. Miri has also played at premier venues including Catalina Jazz Club, Campus Jax, and Swing 46.
Miri enjoys exploring both classic and modern sounds through her playing and composing, and above all else loves connecting with others through music. She will turn 17 at the Telluride jazz festival!
Ryan Black
Tenor sax (Denver, CO)
Denver-based woodwind specialist who plays on bari sax, tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute. Drawing inspiration and influence from modern sounds such as Immanuel Wilkins, Ambrose Akinmusire, Kamasi Washington, and classic masters like Coleman Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, and more.
Ryan Black is a freshman at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music studying Jazz and Commercial Music. He is a member of the Lamont Jazz Orchestra conducted by Remy Le Boeuf. Additionally, Ryan has studied saxophone for several years under Adam Gang. He was the Colorado All State Jazz first tenor in 2024, and an All State Band clarinetist the same year. For three consecutive years, Ryan was awarded the Outstanding Festival Soloist award at Mile High Jazz and has earned a soloist award at the UNC Greeley Jazz Festival in 4 separate ensembles across two years. Ryan is a CCJA alum and credits Ron Carter, Greg Gisbert, Mark Patterson, Darren Rahn, Jason Crowe, and Daryl Gott for their inspiration and influence.
Roberto Rodríguez Rojas
Drums (Heredia, Costa Rica)
Roberto Rodríguez Rojas is a Costa Rican percussionist with a deep musical foundation shaped by his family and church community. One of eight siblings, all of whom play instruments, Roberto began studying percussion at the age of five at the SiNEM in San Ramón, Alajuela. He later continued his musical training at the Palmares Municipal Music School, where he focused on Afro-Latin music, percussion ensembles, and eventually, jazz. In 2023, he began attending jazz jam sessions in Heredia, Costa Rica, where he connected with the local jazz scene, including saxophonist Josh Quinlan. Since 2024, Roberto has been performing in concerts, and serving as a house band member at the main Jazz jam sessions in Costa Rica. He has also been a part of the Modern Jazz Combo at Pablo Campos Jazz Studio in early 2024. Currently active in Costa Rica’s jazz community, Roberto will continue his musical journey in October 2025 at the Hochschule für Musik Dresden in Germany, where he will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz/Rock/Pop with an artistic focus. He is honored to be part of the 2025 Telluride Jazz Festival Student All-Star Ensemble.
Scarlett Before Horses
Piano (Denver, CO)
Scarlett Before Horses is a Denver-based musician, currently studying at Berklee College of Music. Having studied piano for 8 years, she has been well known in the Denver scene for many years, having played venues such as the Muse Performance Space and Dazzle. Scarlett has been a part of many different groups, having worked with the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz as a hand-picked young musician, as well as being known as a part of DAES, a local group of young musicians who recently released their album, D1. She is an up-and-coming composer and artist, with several projects underway to keep an eye on in the near future, which she hinted at in her concept show "Conversations with Our Mother Earth" in July.
Tickets
Tickets are still available for the 48th Annual Telluride Jazz Festival! Join us for three days of music with an intimate crowd setting, art, food and drinks in the most beautiful venue in the world.