Bio

Described by the Naperville Sun as a "double-talented" jazz bassist and jazz vocalist, Katie Ernst has impressed audiences nationwide with her multifaceted performances. Katie has performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Naperville Jazz Festival, and numerous jazz clubs throughout the East Coast and the Midwest. At her recent trio performance at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, Katie was described as being "the surprise act of the night." Rochester's Democrat & Chronicle praised her for writing "interesting, thoughtful arrangements that really embody a full range of styles. She’s definitely a young artist who is on the rise."

Although she concentrated on double bass at the collegiate level, Katie is an accomplished, award-winning vocalist as well. In 2007, she received a coveted Downbeat Award for her singing and was featured in Downbeat Magazine's June issue.

Katie recently graduated from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY with a BM in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media. She attended school as a Rogers Scholar and studied double bass with Jeff Campbell. In her time at Eastman, Katie completed Arts Leadership Program internships at Jazz 90.1 and Pegasus Early Music. Katie's honors include the Susan B. Anthony Women's Leadership Scholarship, Keidaen Senior Honor Society, and the Paychex/UR Leadership Institute. She is currently interning at the Jazz Institute of Chicago, where she will help develop new and innovative ways of reaching jazz education students and program alumni.

photo credit: Joe Philipson