Luz Velázquez is a 2025 YoungArts Winner

Student by Day, Professional Musician by Night

Luz is no stranger to success. A Puerto Rican from The Bronx, she won first place in the High School American Songbook Competition and third place in the National Jazz Festival in Philadelphia. In December 2024, she participated in the All-State Choir of the New York State School Music Association festival, an honor made possible through a selective audition process. A member of MasterVoices, she has performed in shows at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Madison Square Garden, among others. Luz is also a seasoned trumpet player, studying at Third Street Music School, and is a featured musician for the New York Police Department’s La Jara Youth Orchestra. She just turned 17 and is a junior at The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music

“Thank you so much to everyone for all the support. I really, really appreciate it, and it was through ArtSmart that I heard about YoungArts in the first place.”

Cultural Roots

Luz identifies as Puerto Rican and Taíno. She says, “Being a Puerto Rican in New York City, or a Nuyorican, is a combined culture but unique in its own right.” Both of her parents are musicians and vocalists. Her father performs as a salsero, also known as a sonero, a lead singer in salsa music who excels at improvisational vocal techniques called soneos. Luz’s mother used to sing, act, and model, and both parents have appeared on Broadway and performed Latin music internationally. Luz says, “They both taught me all the basics and introduced me to music, and they’ve made a lot of sacrifices in order to keep my sister and me safe, always putting our needs first.”

YoungArts

Luz feels grateful to be a part of YoungArts 2025, which allows young artists to network with other creatives. She said, “Thank you so much to everyone for all the support. I really, really appreciate it, and it was through ArtSmart that I heard about YoungArts in the first place.”

ArtSmart’s Impact

Luz has endless praise for ArtSmart, emphasizing how much the program has helped her grow. “My ArtSmart mentor Christine Moore Vassallo has helped me improve in terms of my technique and performance. I’ve learned a lot, not only about bel canto technique but also different languages, repertoire, and so much more. She’s also made me aware of many opportunities such as YoungArts. My mentor has been so emotionally supportive of me in my two years at ArtSmart. I have gained a very important lifelong connection.”

“I have gained a very important lifelong connection.”

Luz credits her mentor with shaping how she cares for herself in the competitive music industry and helping her hone her performance skills. “A lot of my progress has been a result of all the insight ArtSmart has provided me in life and being able to fully embody the music that I love so much. Of everything I’ve learned, the biggest takeaway is that it is most important to take care of myself and my voice and to be kind to myself. It is so easy to neglect yourself both physically and emotionally in the music world, which is naturally competitive.”

College Plans and Future Goals

As for her future, Luz is keeping her options open. She knows she wants to continue pursuing music and attend college for economics, business, and music, but she is also open to embracing life’s experiences as they come. Luz loves all genres of music and envisions success and happiness as a Jazz/Latin singer. She also enjoys singing classical music, as well as performing classically on the trumpet, and she has begun writing her own music. Luz hopes to release her original compositions in the near future. She looks forward to more jazz gigs and refining her voice and trumpet skills.

Upcoming Performances

Luz has two important shows coming up. She will compete in The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music’s Concerto Competition on March 5 at 6:00 PM at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College. She will also perform with the choir MasterVoices in The Lord of the Rings in Concert: The Return of the King at Radio City Music Hall. Additionally, she looks forward to participating in jazz festivals this summer.