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Jazz Vocalist and Indie Singer/Songwriter

Ava Preston is a jazz vocalist, composer, lyricist, arranger, and band leader based in Cleveland and New York. She performs a unique mix of jazz, blues, pop, and originals. A YoungArts Finalist and winner of 12 Downbeat SMA’s, she has performed at notable venues including The Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Birdland Jazz Club. Ava is pursuing a Masters of Music in Jazz Voice at The Juilliard School. Ava's artistic influences and inspiration are best explained in her own words:

“I find people inspiring most of all. Listening to the vocal “greats” including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone and appreciating their strong voices, not only in their singing, but in equality for all, truly made jazz into a movement as much as a genre. More modern artists such as Sarah Bareilles, Nora Jones, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks, Eva Cassidy, Esperanza Spalding, Jean Baylor, Jazzmeia Horn, Somi, and Diana Krall stimulate my creative expression. 

I believe that music is a universal language that can unite people around the world. My platforms are dedicated to promoting unity and anti-bullying. My hope is to move society in a positive direction with my art. Although world peace is a nice thought, I believe it is an unrealistic absolute for a flawed human condition. My goal is to spread world tolerance and the acceptance of differences through my music.”

Awards & Recognition

Featured in two 30-minute interview shows performing four original songs for PBS “Applause” program in Northeast Ohio and “Songs at the Center” for national PBS stations. To watch Ava’s “Applause Performances” interview, click here.

Biography

Ava Preston is a jazz vocalist and indie singer-songwriter based in Cleveland and New York. She performs a unique mix of jazz, blues, pop, and originals. When performing her wide array of jazz standards, audience members often describe her as an “Old Soul.” Ava was voted Best Female Vocalist at the 2024 Cleveland Music Awards. She is a 2023 YoungArts Finalist and Silver Award Winner for Jazz Voice, and also a 12x Downbeat Student Music Award Winner: 6x for Vocal Jazz Soloist 2018-2023 and 6x for Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist 2018, 2020-2024. Ava was selected as the vocalist for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, which brings together 20 of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians in the country, culminating in a main stage performance at the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival.

An active singer in Northeast Ohio, she began her career singing at a jazz club when she was 10-years old. A few years later she was featured at a number of local venues including The Bop Stop, BluJazz+, Nighttown, Beachland Ballroom, Brothers Lounge, Tri-C JazzFest, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to name a few. She has performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, Brazilian guitarist Moises Borges, and was the lead singer for two 17-piece big bands.

On the national scene, Ava has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center-Dizzy’s Club (NYC), Birdland Jazz Club (NYC), Small’s (NYC), Bluebird Café (Nashville), Blue Llama Jazz Club (Ann Arbor), Con Alma (Pittsburgh), Andy’s Jazz Club (Chicago), and the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival (Easton, MD). Ava has been privileged to perform with such jazz greats as Monty Alexander, John Clayton, Sullivan Fortner, Dan Wilson, Braxton Cook, and Jon Thomas. In 2017, Ava was honored to sing for Wynton Marsalis, who said she had “a gift…a lot of talent and personality.” In 2019, legendary band leader and composer Paul Shaffer watched Ava perform her original song “Toy Solder” and said, “That was a terrific song. You have a big future ahead of you.” 

As an aspiring songwriter, Ava has recorded a number of original songs that span jazz, indie, and pop/rock. Steve Bogard, songwriter of ten number one country songs, recognized Ava’s songwriting ability when she was 11-years old at his songwriter’s camp and encouraged her to visit Nashville. Ava released “Toy Solder” in 2020 and three more originals in 2023. Ava was interviewed and performed her original songs for two PBS programs: “Applause Performances” and “Songs at the Center” for their 10th season. A passionate consumer all types of musical genres and styles, she also sings in Portuguese, Spanish and French. Ava draws inspiration from jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Cyrille Aimee and Astrud Gilberto along with pop singer/songwriters like Sara Bareilies and Alanis Morissette. Ava is pursuing a Masters of Music in Jazz Voice at The Juilliard School.

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Jazz Songs

Original Songs

Live Performances

Music Videos

Photos

Photography by Joseph Calhoun

“Label Me, I Conform
Accept Me, I Create”

—Ava Preston

Contact

Ava Preston
contact@avaprestonmusic.com