Millie Ahearn

2023-present: Rehearsing, booking, recording and performing my original music with the following groups across Chicago (including the Jazz Showcase, Andy's Jazz Club, Fulton St. Collective & Evanston SPACE):

• The Octagyn Collective (nonet)
• The Millie Ahearn Quintet
• The Millie Ahearn Trio
• Don Juan's Brass Disaster (NOLA quartet)

2017-2019: Rehearsing, booking and performing with UK-based The Donut Kings Big Band, culminating in a North-European tour

2022-present: Chicago work:

• Series of original compositions recorded on upcoming double album, Theyness - Volumes I & II
• Original music performed at Chicago Jazz Festival 2024 with Big Shoulders Brass Band
• Original big band composition performed in 2023 by Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra
• Transcription work undertaken for schools participating in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington program

2016-21: UK work:

• Series of original compositions recorded on debut album Octagyn (World Heart Beat Records, 2022)
• Original music performed at London's 606 Club

Leader of two original music projects, resulting in the following albums:

• Octagyn - World Heart Beat Records, UK (2022)
• Theyness, Volumes I & II - [unreleased], USA (2025)

2023-present: Performing with the following Chicago-based groups:

• Commercial (lead trumpet): Martha & the Vandellas, Chicago Blackhawks
• Small group: Jeremy Kahn Trio, Julia Danielle Quintet, Kabir Dalawari Quintet, Tromblau&Friends, Lucas Gillan's 'Many Blessings,' Jamie Demeny Quartet, Chandler Browne Trio, Lizzi Trumbore Quintet, Hey Now Trio, Jesse Lear Septet
• Big band (lead & solo trumpet): Chicago Heritage Orchestra, Shout Section Big Band, Blueshift Big Band, Bill O'Connell's Chicago Skyliners, Abram Collier Nonet
• Brass Band (lead & solo trumpet): Big Shoulders Brass Band, Windy City Ramblers, Butter Chicken Brass Band, Hi-Hat Brass Band, 3rd City Brass Band
• Wedding band (lead & solo trumpet): Rendezvous Music, Bluewater Kings, Louis Petinelli Entertainment, The Jeff Stitely Orchestra
• Choir: Uniting Voices Chicago

2011-2020: Performing with the following UK-based groups:

• Small group: Francis Gryspeerdt Quintet, Sarah King Quintet, Elephantasy, About Life, Introspection, Baker's Dozen
• Large group: Gaz Coombes' Hot Fruit Orchestra, Charlie & The Funk Factory, In The Swing

2022-present: Chicago-based studio work:

• Commercial (lead trumpet): Abram Collier

2011-2019: UK-based studio work:

• Small Group: Sarah King Quintet, SNARP, Tanay Joshi, In the Swing

• Facilitating a bi-monthly space centered around Female, non-binary, genderqueer and otherwise trans identites in Chicago's jazz community
• Booking house bands led by members of the above communities to perform original music and arrangements
• Hosting a jam session for members of these communities to perform together and establish personal community and professional networks

• Designing and delivering entirely new jazz education syllabus for upper-school students
• Working both within the band program as a sectional instructor and also with private students
• Continually evaluating progress of individual students against personalized objectives and adjusting teaching strategies to meet needs

• Catalogued contents of the university's jazz library
• Assisted in set-up and tear-down of big band rehearsals and concerts
• Coordinated communication between the department and featured guests musicians

• Trumpet, baritone, piano & general musicianship instructor (classroom & private)
• Youth orchestra mentor

• Trumpet, baritone & general musicianship instructor (classroom & private)
• Jazz ensemble instructor