School of Jazz '15
Lessie Vonner has performed with Beyoncé and Lizzo as well as Black Women Rock: Daughters of Betty, the Fugees, D-Nice, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Batiste, Ari Lennox, and many other artists.
When she was growing up, Lessie Vonner was initially advised to play the cornet, and found herself constantly being told what not to do, rather than receiving guidance on what she could do. Now she is comfortable pursuing what she wants with her music and relishes the opportunity to perform in and record a variety of musical styles.
“I realized I did not have to accept these rules, and if I put in the work, I would be able to go in any direction I chose,” she says. “Once I adopted this mindset, my world blossomed with new opportunities, and I still haven’t reached my prime. Today I celebrate my ability to perform and record many styles of music however I choose. It brings me joy.”
Since moving to New York to attend the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Vonner has also worked in music education, to which she was first introduced in a pedagogy course that gave her the opportunity to teach group lessons at a Queens high school. Now, in addition to performing and recording, she offers private and public lessons across New York City. One of the programs in which she takes part is Upbeat NYC, which offers free music education and instruments to young people in the South Bronx. She is also involved in the Women in Jazz Organization’s WIJO Mentor Program, designed to connect and support the community of women and non-binary people in jazz.
“I love the passing of tradition involved in teaching–jazz has a deep culture of mentorship, and I am proud to be doing my part in making sure that the next generation can be the best they can be through music,” she says. “I also enjoy that magical moment when a student achieves a goal that they’ve set for themselves. Music related or not, once they realize that with hard work and dedication that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to, the world becomes their oyster. It is truly a gift to help them come to that realization.”
Studying under jazz luminaries like Cecil Bridgewater, Jimmy Owens, Tanya Darby, and Ingrid Jensen provided Vonner with the foundation she needed to start her career as well as the connections with like-minded peers that have helped her thrive. During her time at Jazz, she also worked closely with Reggie Workman as his personal copyist, receiving invaluable advice and mentorship.
Vonner has performed with some of music’s biggest names and groups, gaining insight that she applies in her own practice. It has also exposed her to a variety of Black women working in the music industry, an experience she credits with helping her build her own community.