BIOGRAPHY
Julia Danielle is an up-and-coming vocalist, arranger, educator, and composer based in the heart of the vibrant jazz scene of Chicago.
Her classical training with Northwestern University Voice and Opera professor, Theresa Brancaccio laid the solid foundation for Julia to now bend and blend the lines of classic and contemporary jazz and soul music. Julia grew up in the traveling and nationally competing Campanella Children’s Choir, and is an alumn of the Chicago a Cappella: High School Apprenticeship Program from 2018-2019.
As the 2022 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition Winner, part of Julia's prize was performing alongside The Tierney Sutton Band at the renowned Blues Alley Jazz Club in Washington D.C. and since then, has led her own band and music at the incomparable venue. Julia has also won DownBeat’s 46th annual Student Music Award for “Undergraduate College Outstanding Vocal Soloist” and has been mentioned in their 2023 June edition.
2023 Luminarts Finalist and 2024 Luminarts Winner, Julia has had the opportunity to perform alongside staples of the worldwide scene including Clark Sommers, Dennis Carroll, Kris Funn, Dana Hall, Ernie Adams, George Fludas, Isaiah Spencer, Jeremy Kahn, Lenard Simpson, Geof Bradfield, Chris Madsen, Sharel Cassity, and Isaiah Collier.
Julia earned her Bachelor of Music Undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University in 2023. She had discovered her deep love and study of Black American Music, vocal technique, and pedagogy with Dana Hall, Kathryn Sherman, Sharel Cassity, Scott Hesse, and Scott Ramsay. Julia will graduate from The Juilliard School in 2026 with a Master of Music in Jazz Studies.
You can catch Julia performing around cities at The Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club, Winter’s Jazz Club, Blues Alley Jazz Club, Room 623, Bop Stop, Merrimans’ Playhouse, Catch 35, The Whistler, The Garver Feed Mill, Elastic Arts, Uncommon Ground, Prairie Moon, and The Fulton Street Collective, as well as at fusion venues like Lincoln Hall, Martyrs, Schubas Tavern, GMan Tavern, and The Golden Dagger. Julia has also brought her band to jazz festivals such as The Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The Logan Square Arts Festival, and The Winnetka Music Festival.
Aside from performing, Julia also leads a private voice studio and taught lessons at The University of Chicago in 2024. She has also led masterclasses at Francis W. Parker School and her alma mater, New Trier High School.