Dr. Jeanette Velasco is a first-generation Mexican-American bass and contrabass trombonist from San Antonio, Texas. Her passion for music was inspired by her early exposure to bandas in Mexico and the joy they brought to their communities. Although she appreciates a wide range of musical styles, she is especially passionate about showcasing her cultural heritage through performance and expanding the presence of Latin American music within the trombone repertoire. As a performer, educator, and advocate, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices, celebrating diverse musical traditions, and creating opportunities for greater representation within the brass community.

Velasco serves as Lecturer of Trombone at The University of Texas at Austin and Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Texas Christian University. A proud Longhorn alumna, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance from UT Austin in 2016 under the guidance of Dr. Nathaniel Brickens. She continued her studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, earning a Master of Music in Performance in 2018 under the mentorship of Ben van Dijk. Her musical training also includes studies at The Boston Conservatory with Angel Subero. In 2025, she completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Texas Christian University, where she studied with Dr. David Begnoche.

An internationally active performer, educator, and clinician, Velasco has appeared throughout North America, South America, and Europe as a soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, and masterclass presenter. Her festival appearances include the International Trombone Festival, Trombonanza (Argentina), the Brazilian Trombone Festival, Slide Factory, Trombontepec (Mexico), the Festival Internacional de Mujeres Instrumentistas de Metal in Mexico, and the Big XII Trombone Conference. Through these engagements, she has contributed to the international low brass community as both a performer and an advocate for broader representation in the field.

Velasco has earned recognition in numerous national and international competitions, including the Steven Zellmer Trombone Competition, the S.E. Shires Solo Competition at the Southeast Trombone Symposium, the American Trombone Workshop Solo and Quartet Competitions, the Big XII Trombone Conference Competition, and the Texas State Trombone Symposium Competition. Her orchestral and chamber performance experience includes appearances with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Monarch Brass, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, and the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. She is an official performing artist for S.E. Shires Co.

In addition to her performance and teaching career, Velasco is committed to advancing music education through culturally responsive pedagogy and the exploration of diverse musical traditions. She recently earned a Smithsonian Folkways Certificate of Accomplishment in World Music Pedagogy, further reflecting her dedication to global musical perspectives and inclusive approaches to teaching. Her educational philosophy centers on recognizing each student's unique artistic identity and creating a supportive yet challenging environment in which students feel valued, empowered, and encouraged to develop their own musical voices. She strives to meet students where they are while fostering curiosity, collaboration, artistic excellence, and lifelong musical growth.

Velasco's artistic and scholarly interests include bass trombone pedagogy, the expansion of Latin American repertoire, and the representation of historically underrepresented musicians in classical music and the brass community. Through performance, teaching, and collaboration, she seeks to broaden the musical landscape of the trombone while honoring the cultural traditions that have shaped her own artistic identity.