Paloma Ximena

Paloma Ximena is a self-taught jazz clarinetist and saxophonist who won Outstanding Clarinet and Outstanding Alto Saxophone awards at the 2022 Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival, leading to mentorship with Wynton Marsalis and members of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. She was selected for Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and National YoungArts Week, earning four YoungArts awards.