Grammy-nominated Chilean tenor saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana is internationally recognized for her profound musicality, bold improvisation, and intensely personal narrative.
Born into a family of musicians and the daughter of renowned saxophonist Marcos Aldana, she trained with some of the greatest at Berklee College of Music, studying under George Garzone, Joe Lovano, and Greg Osby. This path allowed her to develop a singular approach to her instrument from an early age.
In 2013, she reached a major milestone, becoming the first female instrumentalist and the first South American to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition — a historic achievement that propelled her onto the world stage.