Jessica

Jessica Frances Torres is a Puerto Rican–Dominican-American musician, educator, and curriculum innovator whose work brings jazz, classical, and global music traditions together in the classroom and on the stage. A 2024 and 2025 Grammy Music Educator Award Quarter-Finalist and 2025 Grammy Legacy Finalist,

 

Torres has dedicated her career to creating inclusive and culturally expansive opportunities for young musicians. She is the founder of the Elmont Global Jazz Orchestra, an innovative ensemble uniting orchestral strings and traditional big band instrumentation through jazz and global musical traditions. Her work as an educator has been recognized and presented at conferences including the Jazz Education Network Conference and NYSSMA Biennial Conference.

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Beyond the classroom, Torres is an accomplished flautist and woodwind doubler whose performance career has taken her from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. In 2025, she was inducted as a member of the Recording Academy, further reflecting a career rooted in musicianship, education, innovation, and a commitment to the next generation of artists.