Jacqueline Black’s lifelong passion for the cello began early, when she heard a concert at the age of four and began begging for a chance to play. Her parents soon relented, and Black never looked back, working tirelessly to master the instrument and eventually earn degrees in music from the University of Illinois, University of Notre Dame, and Northwestern University.
A lengthy and varied tenure as a classical and orchestral musician followed, including positions, performances, and featured solos with the Chicago Youth Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestra, South Bend Symphony, Akron Symphony, and Wheeling Symphony. Sharing her love of music and hard-earned expertise, Black also served for years as a music educator, holding adjunct faculty positions at Mercyhurst University, Allegheny College, and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, working directly with promising students. She also toured extensively with The Savane Trio, a piano trio she founded, including notable performances in United States, Scotland, and Japan.
After decades immersed in the classical world, Black felt restless and hungry for new challenges. Seeking new outlets for her talent and innovation, she turned to jazz, studying under storied musicians and honing her improvisation skills by busking on Mallory Square in Key West. Connections there led her to the adjacent realms of blues, rock, and Americana, inspiring new projects, unexpected collaborations, and a growing body of performances and recordings spanning numerous genres. Today, Black divides time between recording and promoting her own original material and managing an active career as a studio and touring musician supporting acts nationwide.