About the artist:

Multi talented arranger and vocalist, Gracie Jay has performed, written, and recorded with artists including Cyrille Aimee, Camille Thurman, Jamison Ross and more. Her compositions and arrangements have been performed by groups including Grammy award winning New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Part of a rare, niche category of talented female vocalists, Gracie is a powerful force on stage, simultaneously writing and arranging for the same large-ensembles she masterfully sings for.

Hired for her diverse artistic contributions, Gracie is known for elevating every group she’s invited to. Performances with these groups include Tuscon Jazz Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, French Quarter Festival, the John F. Kennedy Center, Snug Harbor, The Century Room, and more. In 2025, Gracie made it into the quarterfinals of the American Traditions Competition.

When Gracie isn’t on stage performing, she’s deeply involved in uplifting other artists within her community. She recently curated the music for the Washington, D.C. Downtown Holiday Market and Adams Morgan PorchFest, showcasing local talent and diverse sounds. Beyond these larger events, Gracie regularly books musicians at restaurants and venues throughout the D.C. and Baltimore area, helping to sustain a vibrant live music scene. For her, building her own career goes hand in hand with nurturing the broader music community.

Music education has always been a part of Gracie’s career. She actively hosts classes and workshops, and directs choirs and large ensembles. Gracie dedicated three years to working with young musicians as the music director at Academy Del Sol, a K-8 charter school. She recently served as an adjunct professor at Loyola University of New Orleans and currently works with New Orleans based non-profit, Second Line Arts Collective.

Gracie received her Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance and Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. She received her Masters degree in Arranging and Composition from North Carolina Central University under the tutelage of Joey Calderazzo and Branford Marsalis.