Music’s my language. Tuba’s my voice.
At my core, I’m a storyteller. Everything I do—tuba playing, composition, spoken word, and teaching—is rooted in sharing my truth and giving voice to the parts of myself I once tried to hide. Embracing this version of my artistry has been a slow, evolving process, one that continues to shape how I show up in the world and in my work.
I make music to speak my truth.
Before the career, awards, and degrees, I was just a girl who wanted to be heard. I was drawn to the tuba because of the kids' show Veggie Tales. Something about its size and power called to me in the show’s opening theme. As a kid who often faded into the background, the tuba felt like a way to take up space and express myself on my own terms. I didn’t get it right at first (fourth-grade me accidentally picked the trombone) but a year later, at ten years old, I finally had the chance to switch. That moment changed everything.
Around the same time, creative writing entered my life. I spent my childhood building imaginary worlds and stories, and when the games stopped, I turned to the page. Writing became my escape and my first language of expression. I spent hours a day writing novels, short stories, and poetry to release my creative energy. Even after choosing music as my career, I kept writing privately. In early undergrad, I realized just how deeply the two disciplines connected: I began to create stories to help me interpret and bring life to the pieces I was performing.
My first recital at Ithaca College showed me what was possible when I let those worlds merge openly. In my sophomore year, I performed James Grant’s Ten Blind Dates for Solo Tuba, inviting friends to act out each movement. That recital was transformative. I saw how storytelling made music accessible, enjoyable, relatable—and I wanted more.
In 2018, I experienced that power in a new context. Through the Promising Artists of the 21st Century cultural exchange program, I toured Costa Rica with colleagues Fred Peterbark (tenor) and Oliver Scott (piano), performing and teaching in Limón, Santa Ana, and Santo Domingo. Those performances of Negro Spirituals, Gospel, and Classical music reminded me how music communicates struggle, hope, faith, and resilience across the barriers of language and culture.
During the pandemic, my artistry expanded again. I leaned into composition and spoken word, exploring themes of identity, expression, vulnerability, and self-discovery. What began as two separate passions—music and creative writing—finally fused into a single practice.
That fusion became the heart of my work: creating art that is honest, relatable, and rooted in the shared human experience.
My Charge
Music is a universal language, and the tuba is my voice to speak it.
As a performer, I create programs that blur boundaries, weaving together tuba, poetry, narrative, and identity to build experiences that feel personal and resonant.
As a composer, I write music that centers storytelling—drawing from classical, contemporary, and popular influences to give performers and audiences something to experience together.
As an educator, I guide musicians toward connecting their craft with their identity, helping them sound like themselves rather than who they think they’re supposed to be.
Across every part of my work, my goal is simple: to help people discover their voice and feel seen.
When I perform, I want audiences to walk away feeling understood.
When I teach, I want musicians to leave with more clarity, tools, and curiosity than they came in with.
When I compose, I want performers to feel the music speaking for them.
That’s the story behind everything I do: music as language, tuba as voice, artistry as truth
What I Have Done
My work has always been rooted in truth, identity, and storytelling that invites people to see themselves more fully. That mission has carried me into concert halls, classrooms, and communities across the U.S. and internationally. From residencies at universities and conservatories to performances and workshops in Costa Rica and Colombia, I have brought this work to thousands of people.
I didn’t set out chasing accolades; I chased impact. But along the way, my voice has been recognized. I earned a D.M.A. in tuba performance from the Peabody Conservatory, placed in major solo competitions including the Falcone Festival and the Yale Gordon Competition, presented and performed at international conferences, and expanded my creative reach through projects like my EP Revolution, which celebrates Black composers, musicians, and musical traditions.
Today, I partner with ensembles, universities, and arts organizations to blend performance, composition, and storytelling into experiences that are honest, vulnerable, and transformative. I currently serve as the Adjunct Professor of Tuba at Rowan University and am a Meinl Weston Performing Artist—roles that allow me to teach, create, and empower musicians in the same way music has always empowered me.
Short Bio
Dr. Jasmine “Jazzie” Pigott is a performer, composer, and educator known for expressive, narrative-driven artistry. A Meinl Weston Performing Artist, she tours internationally as a soloist and clinician, appears with her duo J² with euphoniumist Jermaine Fryer, and serves as the Adjunct Professor of Tuba at Rowan University.
Her interdisciplinary work centers storytelling, identity, and expression through performance, composition, and writing. Dr. Pigott holds a B.M. from Ithaca College, a M.M. from Michigan State University, and a D.M.A. from the Peabody Conservatory at the Johns Hopkins University.