Toronto-based musician Selena Savage was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon and relocated at 18 to pursue a career in music. A graduate of the University of Toronto Jazz Performance program, Selena has spent her time in the city developing her musical identity through composing, arranging, and performing. 

Selena takes inspiration from the swinging tradition of bebop and hard bop, as well as gospel and soul. She aims to honour these styles, and the musicians who created them through her own playing and writing.

Selena’s arrangements and compositions have been described by many as lush, warm, and melody-driven. Aside from her own groups, she has done arranging work for vocal ensembles, small jazz ensembles, big bands and orchestras. In the last six months, she has written for the Problematic Orchestra, the Pannonica Jazz Orchestra, and the University of Toronto 12TET.

Selena works as a bandleader and side musician in Toronto and the Yukon. She has toured across Canada with groups like the New North Collective and Circumpolar Soundscape, as a trombonist and vocalist. Notable venues include the Yukon Arts Centre, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (Vancouver), and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (St. Catherine’s). In Toronto, Selena performs regularly at venues like the Rex Hotel, Jazz Bistro, and the Emmet Ray.

Alongside performing and writing, Selena teaches private lessons in trombone and arranging. She has also taught masterclasses in trumpet, trombone, and improvisation.