According to ASA Band Chair Derek Sanchez, Jonathan Salcedo is the type of student one hopes for when they become a teacher, “Jonathan is someone that pushed me to be a better teacher and a better musician. He always brought new ideas to the classroom and it made me want to do the same. He really did help shape my own teaching style.” Jonathan’s footprint in the musical world is huge already, with skills so honed, that his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, has just named him an Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trombone beginning in the Fall 2025 semester.  

Jonathan took a few minutes from his packed schedule to answer a few questions from his other alma mater, ASA.

You only graduated with your Bachelors of Music Performance, Trombone Performance from Vanderbuilt in 2023 and your CV is so impressive already! You have been very busy…in the studio, filming videos, orchestral performances, composing, teaching… where do you find the most fulfillment?

I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of so many incredible musical opportunities already in my career, and I love doing all of them, but I think the areas I find most fulfilling right now are definitely my salsa work and recording session work! I love the fast-paced environment of recording sessions, and everyday is full of new music and new challenges to play. Salsa and Latin music in general holds a special place for me having grown up immersed in both the culture and the music, so any time I get to work with the incredible artists that come through Nashville is a great time!

You play the piano beautifully as well, but the trombone is where you so obviously shine; what drew you to this particular instrument and where do you find inspiration to create new music for the trombone? Do you have a favorite genre? 

My dad is actually the reason I chose the trombone! He’s a percussionist, and he found a video of an artist named Dana Leong, who plays trombone and cello, performing his song “Bonefied”. When he showed me that song, I immediately asked what instrument it was and wanted to play it! Nowadays, I think what pushes me the most and what drives a lot of my inspiration are the players I get to work with everyday. Not only are they great people, but they’re some of the most incredible players, and every time we play together I always learn something new and leave refreshed and eager for more! I think Salsa and the adjacent styles are my favorite genre to listen to and play, it has such depth and richness, musically and culturally and is a fun challenge as a performer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JONATHAN!

Fierce, provocative, edgy, but never boring, UPSAHL is a force to be reckoned with. She has used her natural performance and writing talents to create a blend of pop, dance, and punk for a sound that is uniquely her own, carving her niche in the music world with a devoted following that avidly waits for her tours to come to town.

Kicking off her recording career with Arista records in Los Angeles directly after high school, she recently revealed on Instagram that she scrapped her latest album prior to release and parted ways with Arista, in order to provide the “best version” of herself for her fans. UPSAHL is now recalibrating and writing fresh songs in a new direction. We are looking forward to continuing the journey with her.

We have been watching with delight as you rise and rise…and rise in the indie pop world since you graduated from ASA. Is this the trajectory you envisioned for your career when you were standing on the stage at the Salty Senorita as a high school freshman, or did your vision evolve as opportunities came to you?

Thank you :) I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, but as I’ve worked in the music industry throughout the years, my vision for my career has continued to evolve. I didn’t realize I wanted touring to be such a massive part of my life until I found myself on the road all the time. Similarly, I didn’t realize that people could have careers as songwriters for other artists until I stumbled into doing that as well. My love for making music and performing is the most consistent thing in my life, so it’s fun to explore the different avenues that my creativity can take me.

One hears so many versions of how songs get written: sitting down to write or a sudden inspiration that becomes a song in a day or saved fragments that get pieced together through collaboration in the studio, etc. What method works best for you? 

When I’m not on the road, I’m in sessions every day, working with different writers and producers. Most days, I come in with either a little bass line/chord progression, a song title, or a melody that popped into my head that morning. Some days, I come in with nothing. Either way, I usually spend an hour or two talking with my co-writers about how we’re feeling until someone accidentally says something that feels like it could lead to a song. Once that initial spark happens, the rest of the song happens pretty naturally from there.

LEARN MORE ABOUT UPSAHL!