2MX2 is a Latin Pop/HipHop group out of Colorado. They are known for their modern renditions of traditional Latin music into danceable urban rhythms that explore topics such as immigration, health, education reform and other matters of our time. Band members are Owen Trujillo (aka 01), who was born in Zacatecas, Mexico; and Denver natives Juice ET Hugo, Lolita, DMD, and Kenny O. 2MX2

Photo by-Jason-Carncross

Lolita Castañeda is a rising artist Mexican-American Latin pop artist who burst onto the streaming scene in 2018. Lolita combines a variety of compositional elements to form her unique and authentic sound. Artist, activist, and advocate for the arts, Lolita facilitates and encourages people, organizations, and companies who have a humanitarian objective. To date, Lolita has amassed hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify, including her recent release, ‘I'm Not Waiting.' Lolita Castañeda

From jazz to soul, hip hop to Afro-Latin, Denver-based vocalist Venus Cruz has opened for artists such as Gregory Porter, Hiatus Kaiyote, Black Thought of The Roots, Meshell Ndegeocello, Saul Williams, Zap Mama, Al Green, Guru, Vieux Farka Toure, Tinariwen, Big Freedia, GoGo Penguin, Corey Henry and Mark De Clive Lowe, to name a few.

Her projects include What Young Men Do and Super Distant Boyfriend, among others. She's opened for Grammy-nominated artists Hiatus Kaiyote and Emily King. In 2016, Venus opened for Grammy winner Gregory Porter at The Chautauqua Amphitheater in Boulder and played at Denver's Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and City Park Jazz. In 2014, Cruz organized, directed, and performed in the Billie Holiday Centennial Celebration at Denver’s Union Station, bringing in a record performance crowd for the space. Cruz also performed at the Prince Tribute at Red Rocks. She's a yearly performer at the UMS festival in Denver.

DCI Tour is an incubator of innovation, healing and connection. Music education and community events are the modes in which we create and hold space for innovation to come together, individuals to lean into their personal power and for us all to work toward synergetic communities. We partner with libraries, schools, youth programs, correctional facilities and senior centers to facilitate songwriting workshops as a means of connecting through storytelling, collaboration and liberatory practices. We also host community events that showcase the songs that come out of those workshops, highlight local artists and small businesses in some of the best outdoor spaces and unique venues. Learn more at https://www.dreamcreateinspiretour.com/

Ana Luna is a multi-talented artist who seamlessly blends her skills as a violinist, immersive performer, and movement artist to create captivating and innovative experiences for all audiences. With a deep passion for pushing the boundaries of traditional violin playing, she utilizes mediums such as circus and theatrical performances to introduce modern audiences to the enchanting world of string playing. Recent highlights include performing with Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Johan Lenox and Quixotic Fusion. In 2022, Ana performed as the violinist for the Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Immersive Experience in Denver, produced by Netflix, Shondaland and Fever. She joined the Yuri K Productions team as their violin lead for the Cirque Holiday experience in residency at the Gaylord Rockies in November 2024.

Ana is an active member of the Colorado Symphony's Education Committee and the Levitt Pavilion's Bodies of Culture Board. She is also an official artist for NS Design Electric Violins.

Photo by @luckyjayded

Kid Astronaut is a time and dimension traveling artist making futuristic R&B. Kid Astronaut (@kidastronavt) was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. His music is a heartfelt mixture of soul, pop, and engaging storytelling through lyrics that are an honest and revealing look into the soul of this adventurous songwriter. He is also the Co-founder of CONSCIOUS CREATIVES (@conscious.creatives), a Denver-based artist collective that believes in the idea "you are the creator of your reality, why not make it great?" linktr.ee/kidastronavt

Ryan McCurry grew up on Colorado’s Front Range and fell in love with the piano at a young age. He enjoyed performing in school concerts, recitals, and shows and set out to study wildlife biology in college. While attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, his plans shifted as he pursued a B.A. in Classical Piano Performance by day while gigging with rock, funk, jazz, salsa, reggae, and country bands by night. Ryan returned to the Front Range in 2022 after two decades of performing and teaching in after-school and adult music programs in Durango. He is a versatile player and an intuitive educator, and he believes that fun is the foundation of learning. Ryan feels fortunate to be living his dream - sharing in the joy of music with audiences and students alike.

Pink Hawks are master-level world musicians garnering comparison to sonic innovators such as Fela Kuti’s Afro-beat and Mulatu Astatke’s Ethiopiques Jazz. "Sun Ra's melodically off-the-rails piano playing, and the languid, sonically adventurous atmospheres of Yo La Tengo." (Tom Murphy, Westword) Put on your dancing pants as Pink Hawks set the floor on fire. Pink Hawks

Same Cloth is a genre-bending, Denver-based, Black woman-led band that uses their peculiarities to share meaningful art. Same Cloth performs original music and creative cover arrangements, combining the diverse traditions of Black American Music to create an energetically eclectic and emotionally elevating live music experience.

JoFoKe: It is rare to find a vocal artist who can maneuver between genres while maintaining a genuine authenticity of each and the integrity of her voice. Spanning from classical to gospel to jazz through to rock, blues, pop, funk, and soul, singer JoFoKe does this with ease. To enhance her sound, JoFoKe formed a group of equally versatile vocalists and instrumentalists. This band, “aNem” (and them), uniquely fuses the improvisatory aesthetic of Modern Jazz with Gospel and R&B/Soul. The repertoire of the group is eclectic, comfortably placing Jazz Standards alongside funky covers and soul-tinged originals. JoFoKe aNem creates an experience that is, both musically and spiritually enriching.

Solomon was first exposed to the world of classical music when he began formal piano lessons with the late Marie J. Clark at nine years old. Extracting from these lessons, and under the musical direction of his mother, Solomon began to serve as the lead pianist of St. John Church of God in Christ in Denver, Colorado. Through countless liturgical and academic performances, he became a gospel accompanist and collaborator in various music ministry projects across his hometowns of Aurora and Denver. Despite his fondness for instruction, directing, and performance, Solomon’s love for music composition remains most zealous. He has most recently written for the Parlando School for Musical Arts’ 2021 and 2022 Commissioned Composer Project. His work has also been featured in local ensembles such as Rhythm of Life Community Chorus, MSU Denver Wind Ensemble, and the ColomboAmerican Medellín’s Jazz Camp and Festival in Columbia, South America.

Tony Schiess is a guitarist, educator, and composer from Denver, Colorado. He has performed and taught all over the United States and gigs throughout Colorado with The TSB. Originally from Atlanta, Tony graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with honors and Departmental Distinction while recording and performing in diverse groups such as the indie rock band Halfeven, The Jamie Thomas Acoustic Band, and jam band Rent Party. He has frequently performed alongside professors in local jazz clubs and orchestra pits for Asheville Theater Festivals. In addition, Tony was the guitar chair in The UNC-Asheville Big Band and a member of the school’s prestigious IAJCE Jazz Combo.

Verena is a Mexican singer-songwriter now based in Denver, known for her emotionally charged blend of contemporary pop, R&B, and neo-soul, enriched with her Latin American heritage. Through her lyrics, she fearlessly explores themes of vulnerability, authenticity, and the multifaceted human experience, particularly from the perspective of a woman, person of color, friend, daughter, and partner. Verena has successfully used her music to amplify her own stories and the voices of those like her, making her music exceptionally relatable and meaningful.

Verena's live performances have been a consistent highlight of her career over the past five years. Her captivating shows have taken place in various venues, including the iconic Lunario del Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. These venues serve as a testament to her growing influence in the music world, showcasing her ability to connect with diverse audiences.

In 2022, Verena reached a significant milestone with the release of "Till The Day," a song performed and recorded by the prestigious Budapest Scoring Orchestra and produced by Latin Grammy-Award-winning producer Andres Guerrero. This project was accompanied by a visually striking music video that fully embodied Verena's artistic vision. Her journey includes opening for established acts, such as DeVotchKa, and being featured in Forbes LATAM Magazine. Verena's dedication to her craft, her commitment to social impact through her music, and her remarkable live performances have solidified her place as a rising star in the music industry.

Tanaya Winder is an author, singer/songwriter, and motivational speaker who comes from an intertribal lineage of Southern Ute, Pyramid Lake Paiute, and Duckwater Shoshone Nations, where she is an enrolled citizen. She is a 2016 National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development “40 Under 40” emerging American Indian leader. Winder co-founded As/Us: A Space for Women of the World, a literary magazine publishing works by BIPOC women. She holds a BA in English from Stanford University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of New Mexico.

Winder’s performances and talks blend storytelling, singing, and spoken word to teach about different expressions of love and “heartwork.” Her poetry collections include Words Like Love and Why Storms are Named After People and Bullets Remain Nameless. Her specialties include youth & women empowerment, healing trauma through art, creative writing workshops, and mental wellness advocacy. You can learn more about her at: www.tanayawinder.com

Cole Music Program with Director Blake Stepan

Cole Honors Band at the UbiSubUbi Room
ColeChella 2025
SoFar Sounds: Cole by Candlelght

Alex Newton graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver, with a degree in Guitar Performance and Recording Arts. Prior to coming to Colorado, Alex was able to study under notable musicians such as G.E Smith, Jorma Kaukonen, and Alex DeGrassi. He also attended the Berklee College of Music twice, for their five week summer courses in high school. Having studied guitar for 20 years, Alex is well-versed in all styles, with an emphasis in jazz, R&B, soul, funk and the blues.

Alex regularly performs with groups around the Denver area, and is often recording with many musicians from across the state. Since opening his own home studio in 2019, Alex has been recording and producing for artist across genres. Adding his own flair to each recording, Alex often plays guitar, bass, keys, and anything else needed for the song. With a collection of instruments and microphones, utilizing his production knowledge, Alex creates a universe within the music - which is his main goal.

Alex has spent the last 10 years in Colorado actively teaching, performing, and creating. Alex’s goal is to cultivate a safe and encouraging space to learn and create music. He believes that regardless of musical ability or goals, there is a space for music in every person’s life. Through music, we can learn a lot about the world and ourselves. Alex’s goal is to provide his students and clients with the encouragement and knowledge to find where that fits into their lives.

Chantil Dukart is an award-winning contemporary jazz pianist and vocalist with roots in the Tsimshian and Sugpiaq tribes of Alaska.

Dukart has performed with leading voices in contemporary music, including Esperanza Spalding, Nikki Glaspie (Beyoncé, Dumpstaphunk), Michael Pilot (Hamilton) and Guggenheim fellow Nicholas Galanin at notable venues including the Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian, Kuumbwa Jazz Center and the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival. Website

Explore the rich soundscape of Jeanette//Streight, a Jazz/R&B duo and band rooted in the vibrant music scene of Denver, Colorado. Comprising vocalist Elyse Midgyett, instrumentalist Dylan Streight, and occasionally additional talented bandmates, the group embodies a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences and genuine passion.

Elyse, born and raised in Denver, has been an active presence in the city's music landscape since 2017, collaborating with various artists like Emma Mayes & the Hip, Kid Astronaut, Teresa Suydam, and +Ultra. Her musical journey, rooted in church starting at the age of seven, then honed at the Denver School of the Arts through her later childhood and adolescence, reached new heights with a degree in Music Industry Studies from the University of Colorado Denver. Her vocal versatility shone on a national stage, traveling the country with an award-winning a cappella group.

Dylan, a pianist since early childhood, then picking up guitar shortly thereafter, spent his teenage years performing ska/alt-rock across Toledo and Columbus, OH. His academic journey led to a B.S. in Music with a Recording Arts Emphasis from the University of Colorado Denver, leading him to shape an original sound that merges Alternative with R&B undertones while staying true to his musical origins.

The fusion of Elyse's soulful vocals and Dylan's instrumental finesse forms the core of Jeanette//Streight. Their journey is a convergence of individual achievements, reflecting their shared love for music and a collective need for a jazz-styled musical outlet. Beyond personal triumphs, the duo embodies a harmonious blend of creativity and authenticity.

As Jeanette//Streight takes center stage, their performances resonate with a down-to-earth and creative energy that sets them apart. From gracing notable venues like City Park Jazz to opening for Mac Ayres and leaving their mark on the Underground Music Showcase, the duo is on an upward trajectory. Looking forward, their vision extends beyond the present, with plans to infuse more R&B into their cocktail jazz stylings, modernizing their sound, and captivating audiences in new and exciting ways.

Kayla Marque is a singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. In 2020, Marque released Brain Chemistry, a transcendent double album that dives deep into themes of self-love, trauma, and mental health through the concept of examining the Right Brain and Left Brain. In 2021, Kayla Marque’s side project “The Grand Alliance” with Sur Ellz (Khalil Arcady) and Crl Crrll (Carl Carrell) released its funky, genre-bending self-titled debut The Grand Alliance. As the program manager at Diversify the Stage, Kayla Marque is looking to the future. Her next solo project promises to continue in a more playful energy, exploring themes of beauty, pleasure, and fantasy, while still grounded by the raw honesty that ties all her music together. kaylamarque.com/