Origin, tradition, and innovation are the foundations of award-winning artist Luis Ozoria. The Baltimore-based trumpeter’s musical prowess is recognized across the Eastern Shore as an artist who seamlessly navigates diverse styles and genres.
Ozoria’s jazz ensemble, The Candor Collective, serves as a platform for his original compositions exploring themes of his Caribbean-American identity and philosophy on the human experience. With a commitment to authenticity and introspection, the Candor Collective delves deep into the essence of the music, forging connections that resonate with audiences on an intimate level.
In addition to commercial music, Ozoria is a founding member of Cortina Brass, a dynamic brass ensemble delivering engaging performances to all communities. With a commitment to pushing the boundaries of brass performance, the group conveys a unique disposition to brass chamber music through introducing Classical, Contemporary, American, and World styles to the brass canon.
Aside from personal projects, Ozoria stays busy as a freelancer in the popular music scene. In March 2025, Ozoria was invited to accompany Singer Kim Deal on her Nobody Loves You More East Coast Tour. Ozoria has also been fortunate to work with latin artists Nikki Alva, Dominique Patrick Noel, Edwin Perez, Max Rosado, and Frankie Ruiz Jr. From 2021-2023, Ozoria served as the horn arranger for Cheers the Band, infusing their performances with original arrangements that elevated their renditions of timeless classics and contemporary hits. Ozoria’s arrangements were featured at esteemed venues such as the Delaware Museum of Art, Hard Rock Casino Atlantic City, Xfinity Live Sports Bar Philadelphia, and Golden Nugget Casino Atlantic City.
Beyond his performance pursuits, Ozoria is deeply passionate about education, sharing his knowledge and insight with aspiring musicians of all ages. Ozoria has served as a guest artist and clinician at numerous school programs across the east coast. He has also contributed his expertise as an ensemble director of the Central Pennsylvania Jazz Camp, is a staff member of the Rowan University Summer Jazz Camp, and is on faculty at the Peabody Institute. Through his work as an educator and mentor, Ozoria seeks to inspire the next generation of artistic visionaries, guiding them on a path of creativity, expression, and introspection.
Originally from Southern New Jersey, Ozoria’s musical journey began in Galloway with local Trumpeter David Seals and expanded through his studies at Rowan University. Under the tutelage of Dr. Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, Jonathan Barnes, Denis DiBlasio, and George Rabbai, Ozoria received the 2019 Bill Walters Scholarship by the New Jersey Jazz Society, earned recognition as a “Young Lion” by the South Jersey Jazz Society, and was awarded the prestigious Ann B. Ward Creative Achievement in Fine and Performing Arts medallion upon graduation. His quest for musical excellence later led him to an artistic merit scholarship at the Peabody Institute, where he made history as the first recipient of a Master of Music in jazz studies under the mentorship of Richard Johnson, Sean Jones, and Fran Vielma.
