elena izqueirdo
Saturday. August 29, 2029 - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Peace Garden
Elena Izquierdo, voted “Jazz Rising Star” in the 2026 JazzBuffalo Poll, earned her degree in Popular & Commercial Music from Loyola University New Orleans in 2024. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, she developed a love of performing at a young age. While she explored theatre, pop music, and songwriting, jazz quickly became her greatest artistic passion.
During high school, Elena was selected as the featured vocalist for the Legends of Jazz series at Williamsville East High School, where she performed alongside acclaimed jazz artists Bill Charlap (2017), Ernie Watts (2018), and Regina Carter (2019). In 2015, she performed an original composition by Ben Toth at Kleinhans Music Hall. She was also named Outstanding Jazz Vocalist at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival at Lincoln Center in 2017.
In 2024, Elena met guitarist Stu Weissman at a local jazz jam, leading to the formation of their duo. She treasures the intimacy of jazz performance and enjoys connecting with fellow musicians and audiences through the spontaneity, collaboration, and artistry of live jazz.
