Jay Byron - trumpeter

Since his arrival in Quito, Ecuador in 1982, Jay has been deeply committed to international music education. He has implemented music programs at the prestigious American International School, Academia Cotopaxi (1982-1997), the University of San Francisco de Quito-Berklee International Network Program (2002-2011) and he is currently the Director of the University of the Americas School of Music (2011-present).

In addition to teaching Jay has been very active in the local music scene while performing, producing, composing, arranging and recording his own projects and those of local artists. He has garnered a wide range of experience as a musical director and arranger while working in various styles from commercial to Latin genres and in particular, big band jazz. His efforts have fostered a deep interest in this genre and elevated the big band format and repertoire to be a viable and dynamic element of jazz education in Ecuador.

Jay holds degrees from Plymouth State University (B.S. - Music Education), the University of Alabama (M.A.-Educational Leadership) and Florida International University (M.M.-Jazz Studies with an emphasis in arranging). He is the recipient of the Search Associates International Teacher of the Year Award and he is the co-founder with the United States Embassy in Quito of the Ecuador “Emisarios de Jazz” Program in partnership with the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops.