Janelle Finton

About Janelle

Fascinated by many modes of creativity, Janelle Finton is a trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and poet who approaches music making and storytelling with wonder. She has played with groups such as the Maria Schneider Orchestra as a featured vocalist, the Grace Fox Big Band, the John Daversa Big Band, the Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and NYO Jazz at Carnegie Hall, where she toured Europe and Asia with Sean Jones, Dianne Reeves, and Kurt Elling. As a composer, Finton has been recognized by Downbeat, the American Composer’s Forum, and is published with Brava Jazz and Anchor Music. In 2024, she debuted her folk/jazz/chamber group joygarden, and had her concert band piece Midwest Clinic premiere. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall, a big band arrangement of hers will be premiered by NYO Jazz 2025.

As an educator, Finton is a lifelong learner, and shares this with students through private lessons and jazz combos across Chicago, as well as clinics/guest artist residencies, and regional programs such as ILMEA. Finton holds a B.M. from the Frost School of Music where she studied with Brian Lynch, as well as Etienne Charles, Dafnis Prieto (improvisation), and Dr. Kate Reid (voice). Finton is continuously grateful for all the opportunities she has to share joy with people through her music! You can keep up to date with Finton’s music on her website at janellefinton.com.

As a lifelong learner, I invite my students into the practice of music, creativity, and joy through curiosity, inspiration, and wonder.