Ava and the Hitmen presented by Lincoln Center & Hire Juilliard Performers

Ava Preston is a 21-year-old jazz vocalist and indie singer/songwriter based in Cleveland and New York. She performs a unique mix of jazz, blues, pop, and originals. When performing her wide array of jazz and blues standards, audience members often describe her as an “Old Soul.” Ava is the Winner of the 2026 International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition. Ava was selected as the Vocalist for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, which brings together 20 of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians in the country, culminating in a main stage performance at the 2023 Monterey Jazz Festival. In 2025, Ava created Sidewalk Swing, an event to “bring jazz directly to the people” on 12 street corners throughout Manhattan, which featured student and alumni combos from seven local universities.