Bio (200 words)

Laura-Simone is a 20-year-old bassist and vocalist whose artistry has already taken her to world-renowned stages, including BBC Proms, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Blue Note at Sea. She was selected by Marcus Miller to join a five-person bass ensemble for Bass, a groundbreaking exhibit by Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen, performing alongside legends such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Mamadou Kouyaté, and Aston Barrett Jr.

In 2024, Laura-Simone was awarded the Living Jazz Fellowship, training intensively with Linda May Oh, Allison Miller, and Alicia Olatuja. She has also performed with Etienne Charles’ Afro-Caribbean Big Band through Jazz Aspen Academy and was a member of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra, touring internationally with Sean Jones and two-time Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Merging her love for music and activism, Laura-Simone founded the Queen Amina Music Program during high school to inspire 4th–8th grade girls through jazz history, improvisation, and performance. With grant funding, she hosted masterclasses and a public concert featuring Grammy-nominated saxophonist and Oscar-winner Tia Fuller.

Currently a junior at Michigan State University, Laura-Simone continues to grow under the mentorship of renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker while championing equity and excellence in jazz.