Adrian Herrera-Escobar

Adrian Herrera-Escobar is an Assistant Professor of Music - Piano and Commercial Keyboard at Colorado Mesa University. He holds a DMA in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an MA from the Aaron Copland School of Music (CUNY Queens College) with a Fulbright Scholarship, a BA in Classical Piano from the Conservatorio Antonio Maria Valencia in Colombia, and a professional certificate from KIT Musicians Institute in Los Angeles.

• Education:
• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Jazz Performance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Master of Arts (MA), Jazz Performance, CUNY Queens College (Fulbright Scholar, 2009)
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Classical Piano, Conservatorio Antonio María Valencia
• Journeyman/Professional Certificate, KIT Musicians Institute

His research and teaching focus on Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation, Jazz Theory, Music History, and Keyboard Techniques. He emphasizes student-centered pedagogy, blending academic rigor with practical performance skills to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving in jazz language.

Herrera-Escobar has performed internationally with renowned artists like Ronald Carter and Antonio Hart, and his ensemble won top honors at the 2019 Voces de Cartagena Jazz Festival. His performances span festivals in Colombia and the U.S., including headline events at Teatro Jorge Eliecer Gaitán and Chicago’s live sessions.

• Awards:
• Best Group (Adrian Herrera Jazz Quintet) at Voces de Cartagena 2019
• Best Arrangement ("El Mejoral") at Voces de Cartagena 2019

He coordinates jazz programs and advocates for inclusive teaching methodologies, leveraging technology and cultural insights to enhance student engagement.