Braden Astorga-Rollins
Vocals + Sax
Braden’s musical career started with his mother in rural Southern California, a classical piano player who began teaching him at a very young age, and encouraged a strong love for performance and composition. After high school, he moved to Illinois to pursue jazz studies at Northern Illinois University, where he took a strong interest in Afro-Cuban music, and was able to develop that passion under the mentorship of Geof Bradfield and Mike Mixtacki. Braden is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Latino and Latin American cultures at NIU. Braden is also a very active advocate for Latino immigrants with involvement in multiple student and independent organizations including his roles as a Senator for the NIU Latino Student Association and Co-Vice President of Dream Action NIU.