"Chicago jazz musician Miguel de la Cerna likes to refer to himself as 'your basic piano player, commercial musician,' but that modest self-assessment greatly understates the case"

Miguel de la Cerna is a Chicago native and third-generation jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. His earliest training came under James A. Mundy (b. 1886), founder of the South Side School of Grand Opera. He is the grandson of pianist General Morgan, who recorded with Billie Holiday, and the nephew of vocalist Gloria Morgan.

After studies at the American Conservatory of Music and Oberlin Conservatory, de la Cerna toured internationally for over a decade as a pianist and conductor before returning to Chicago.

He has collaborated with artists including Kahil El’Zabar and Nicole Mitchell, and has orchestrated major productions at Millennium Park, including Corey Wilkes’ Donny Hathaway and House Music tributes. His work spans jazz, classical, and world traditions.

In theater and opera, he has appeared in Regina Taylor’s Crowns and Exhibit, and as featured pianist in South Shore Opera Company’s premieres of Harriet Tubman and Fannie Lou Hamer.

A two-time commission recipient from The Orion Ensemble and commissioned composer for the 2022 Hyde Park Jazz Festival, his Three Children Songs for Left Hand is featured in the documentary For the Left Hand.

He serves as Music Director for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s JazzCity concert series.