Ava Preston

Ava Preston is a jazz vocalist and indie singer/songwriter from Cleveland, OH. She performs a variety of genres including jazz, blues, pop/rock and originals along with songs in French, Portuguese and Spanish. Audience members often describe her as an “Old Soul.” She has been recognized for a number of national awards and notable performances. Ava is a 2023 YoungArts Finalist and Silver Award Winner for Jazz Voice. She is also an 11x Downbeat Student Music Award Winner: 6x for Vocal Jazz Soloist 2018-2023 and 5x for Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist 2018, 2020-2023.

An active singer in Northeast Ohio, Ava has been a featured at The Bop Stop, BluJazz+, Tri-C JazzFest, Nighttown, Beachland Ballroom, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to name a few. She has performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and is the lead singer for two 17-piece big bands. On the national scene, Ava has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center/Dizzy’s Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Small’s, Bluebird Café, Andy’s Jazz Club, and the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival (Easton, MD). As a songwriter, Ava has also recorded a number of original songs that span jazz, indie, and pop/rock.

Ava has been inspired by jazz legends including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Astrud Gilberto, and Carmen McRae as well as more contemporary artists like Diana Krall, Jazzmeia Horn, Jean Baylor, Nora Jones, Sarah Bareilles, and Alanis Morissette. Ava believes music is a universal language that can unite people and promote acceptance of differences around the world.