Born and raised in New Orleans, La., saxophonist Kirsten Theodore began showing an interest in music at the tender age of five. Kirsten started with piano, then developed a stronger interest in violin. At eight, she began performing public recitals, showcasing her musicianship. As Kirsten matured as a musician, she fell in love with the alto saxophone. Since middle school, she has played the alto sax in performances with everyone from Jon Batiste to Herbie Hancock, won multiple awards for her solos, and composed original music that she debuted at the New Orleans House of Blues Music Forward Foundation.
Kirsten has earned numerous awards at competitions and festivals, starting in middle school, when she won first place in the Louisiana District VI Honor Band for three years. At age thirteen, she was awarded “outstanding soloist” at Orlando’s Disney Music Festival and also “best soloist” at The Loyola University Jazz Festival. In 2017, she was selected as a finalist for the House of Blues Music Forward: Bringing Down the House showcase, where she headlined her first show.
In 2019, Kirsten graduated from the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts, where she learned the importance of exhibiting professionalism, embracing all genres of music, and representing women in the music industry. With the support of phenomenal teachers like Michael Pellera, Khari Lee, and Roderick Paulin, Kirsten played with multiple organizations – including the Louis Armstrong Institute, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Project Prodigy, and the NOCCA Jazz band.
Kirsten performed on historic, hometown radio station WWOZ, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and as a guest soloist in “The Music of John Coltrane Concert” with the New Orleans jazz Orchestra. Kirsten has performed and worked with many artists such as Herbie Hancock, Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Wendell Brunious, Roderick Paulin, Jessie McBride, Clarence Johnson, Irvin Mayfield, Glen David Andrews, Jeffrey “Jellybean” Alexander, Delfeayo Marsalis, and more. Before her senior year, Kirsten attended the Berklee College of Music Women in Jazz summer program and studied under Terri Lynne Carrington and Tia Fuller. Even though Kirsten was accepted to Berklee and granted a full scholarship, she chose to stay in New Orleans and continue its musical legacy at Loyola University College of Music, majoring in music industry studies performance track.
Born and raised in New Orleans, La., saxophonist Kirsten Theodore began showing an interest in music at the tender age of five. Kirsten started with piano, then developed a stronger interest in violin. At eight, she began performing public recitals, showcasing her musicianship. As Kirsten matured as a musician, she fell in love with the alto saxophone. Since middle school, she has played the alto sax in performances with everyone from Jon Batiste to Herbie Hancock, won multiple awards for her solos, and composed original music that she debuted at the New Orleans House of Blues Music Forward Foundation.
Kirsten has earned numerous awards at competitions and festivals, starting in middle school, when she won first place in the Louisiana District VI Honor Band for three years. At age thirteen, she was awarded “outstanding soloist” at Orlando’s Disney Music Festival and also “best soloist” at The Loyola University Jazz Festival. In 2017, she was selected as a finalist for the House of Blues Music Forward: Bringing Down the House showcase, where she headlined her first show.
In 2019, Kirsten graduated from the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts, where she learned the importance of exhibiting professionalism, embracing all genres of music, and representing women in the music industry. With the support of phenomenal teachers like Michael Pellera, Khari Lee, and Roderick Paulin, Kirsten played with multiple organizations – including the Louis Armstrong Institute, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Project Prodigy, and the NOCCA Jazz band.
Kirsten performed on historic, hometown radio station WWOZ, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and as a guest soloist in “The Music of John Coltrane Concert” with the New Orleans jazz Orchestra. Kirsten has performed and worked with many artists such as Herbie Hancock, Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Wendell Brunious, Roderick Paulin, Jessie McBride, Clarence Johnson, Irvin Mayfield, Glen David Andrews, Jeffrey “Jellybean” Alexander, Delfeayo Marsalis, and more. Before her senior year, Kirsten attended the Berklee College of Music Women in Jazz summer program and studied under Terri Lynne Carrington and Tia Fuller. Even though Kirsten was accepted to Berklee and granted a full scholarship, she chose to stay in New Orleans and continue its musical legacy at Loyola University College of Music, majoring in music industry studies performance track.