Biography
He was born and raised in San Diego, California. Cabrera's professional career started at the age of 18 when he formed a group named Jazz Avenue with five of his close friends. They competed in the national competition SchoolJam USA 2012 (sponsored by the National Association of Music Merchants), where they won the prestigious title of Best Teen Band and were given the opportunity to perform for the Musikmesse Convention in Frankfurt, Germany.
Cabrera notably arranges for the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World San Diego, and Legoland California. He also composes original music for big bands, wind ensembles, and symphonies. Cabrera directs his own big band known as the JazzKatz Orchestra and performs with San Diego's premier groups, such as the Gaslamp Quarter Jazz Orchestra, Chameleons of the San Diego Zoo, The Legoland Brass Band, and Seaworld!
Chaz Cabrera graduated with a high school degree from the San Diego School of Creative and Performing arts in 2011. He continued his studies at Grossmont College originally as a Biology Major and inspired by professor, friend, and colleague Derek Cannon, changed his major into music education in 2015. He attended San Diego State University in 2017 and graduated in 2020 with a BM in Music Education. He earned his Career Technical Education credential in 2021 and is now currently pursing a Masters in Music for Jazz Performance from San Diego State University.
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