Fresh Takes On Jazz: Ava Preston

Presented by Mickeys Black Box & Music For Everyone Jazz and blues vocalist Ava Preston is a rising star, gaining attention nationwide as an exceptional singer, composer and arranger. Just 21 years old, Ava this year won the 2026 Ella Fitzgerald International Jazz Vocal Competition and earned her masters degree in jazz voice from Juilliard. . During her college years, Ava was a 12-time winner of the Student Music Award bestowed by DownBeat magazine -- capturing the top Vocal Jazz Soloist honor six times and the top Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist honor six times. Ava is passionate about bringing live jazz to the public, creating an innovative effort called -Sidewalk Swing: Bringing Jazz & Joy to Every Corner- that places 12 combos of student musicians on the streets of Manhattan one Saturday each fall.