Chicago-born Brandon Harper, a 2024 Ravinia Steans Music Institute fellow under jazz greats Rufus Reid, Billy Childs and Steve Wilson, is among the nation's best young jazz pianists just a few years after embracing the instrument. 

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Brandon, 19, began Jazz Studies at Northwestern University in 2023. He showcased exceptional talent in high school, but initially as a percussionist. He was selected in 9th grade as drummer for Merit School of Music’s honors jazz combo. In 10th grade he earned Illinois Music Educators Association all-state honors for classical percussion. 

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But by fall of 9th grade, having started teaching himself on a small keyboard at home, Brandon began to give notice of a change to come. "(He) hopped on piano and played rehearsal," Lincoln Park High School’s choir director wrote days later. "Not only could he decipher the harmonic progressions by ear, but he had memorized all of the little intricacies of what basically amounts to two hours of straight music. I don't know of any professionals, let alone high school students, who could do that."

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Brandon also made an indelible musical mark with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, first as a classical percussionist, then as a jazz drummer and finally, as a jazz pianist. As a Ravinia Jazz Scholar he played drums as a sophomore and piano as a junior.

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In July, Brandon, one of the 2024 YoungArts winners for jazz piano, debuted at Chicago’s legendary Andy’s Jazz Club in Isaiah Spencer’s quartet. You can see the Brandon Harper and Friends trio at noon September 1 on the Young Lions stage at the 2024 Chicago Jazz Festival.