Picking up trumpet at the age of 12, Josiah Woodson, a product of the Oaktown Jazz Workshop, refined his craft under the private instruction of mentor, Khalil Shaheed. Since leaving the Bay Area, Woodson has regularly returned to teach and perform, including an original piece, “The Third Day,” with conductor Michael Morgan and the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Woodson obtained his Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, where he studied under Marcus Belgrave. There, he was a member of several ensembles, most notably the Oberlin Jazz Septet. Moving to Boston to receive a Master of Music degree (with academic honors) from the New England Conservatory of Music, Woodson was among selected students to perform at the Panama Jazz Festival with Danilo Perez, sharing the stage with David Sanchez, Victor Paz, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. The Boston Globe heralded his playing as “outstanding!” Whie in Boston, where he toured with Lamine Toure and Group Saloum playing trumpet, flute, and guitar, Woodson became an integral member of “The Makanda Project” with Oliver Lake, Yoron Isreal and John Lockwood, playing trumpet and flute. He continued to perform with the Boston-based ensemble while stationed in New York. In New York City, Josiah plays trumpet, flute, and guitar in several bands including Out to Lunch, The People’s Champsand The SuperPower Horns, with whom he wrote and recorded material for the award-winning singer Beyonce’s latest album, 4. Josiah Woodson is an international musician who has performed throughout the United States and North America (namely New York City, Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, Atlanta, New Orleans, Bay Area-California, and Montréal, Canada), Europe (including Ostrava and Prague in The Czech Republic; Pohoda, Slovakia; and Paris, France), as well as Tokyo, Japan. Recently, he has formed a new project named Quintessentiel that features music for the people inspired by the elements of our natural world. He is currently in transition to expand this project and his career in Paris, France. www.josiahwoodson.com