With her crisp voice and precise lyricism, singer Arianna Neikrug first came to audiences' attention as the winner of the 2015 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Following her win, she issued her debut album, 2018's Changes, on Concord Music. A native of Los Angeles, California, Neikrug grew up listening to an array of sounds, from R&B and Motown classics to folk, jazz, and pop. After high school, she honed her skills studying at the prestigious Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. Graduating in 2015, she launched her career with several accolades, including picking up the Outstanding Soloist award in the college division of the Next Generation Jazz Festival. Also in 2015, she entered the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, where she ultimately finished in first place. As part of her win, she signed a recording contract with Concord Music. As a solo artist, she has earned plaudits performing around the world, including shows at Birdland in New York City, at Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles, and at the 2016 International Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada. In 2018, she released her debut album for Concord, Changes, which featured contributions from Grammy-winning pianist/producer Laurence Hobgood. ~ Matt Collar