Bria Skonberg
Bria Skonberg is a Canadian jazz trumpeter and vocalist. Early life. Skonberg was born in Chilliwack, British Columbia; her great-grandparents on her father's side came from Sweden. She took piano lessons in elementary school, switching to trumpet in her early teens. During High School and college she appeared at numerous jazz festivals with The 51st Eight. She also led the all-female Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band. In 2006, she graduated from Capilano University in Vancouver with a degree in jazz trumpet. She studied with Warren Vaché. Career. Skonberg was the leader of Bria's Hot Five  and The Big Bang Jazz Band. She also performed with Canadian jazz veteran Dal Richards and his Orchestra in concert and on recordings. Skonberg has appeared as a band leader and guest artist at jazz festivals in North America, Europe, China and Japan. She moved to New York City in 2010. She was a co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Festival. Skonberg has performed with Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, and Wycliffe Gordon. Also with Shaye Cohn. In 2017 Skonberg won the Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, for her crowd-funded album "Bria". Bria Skonberg