Hi! My name is Natalia Vela, and I I am a teacher and active freelance performer residing in East Lansing, Michigan!

I have performed as a substitute with the West Michigan, Grand Rapids, and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestras. I was recently awarded a trial as principal trumpet with the A2SO. In addition, in 2025 I was a fellow at the Festival Hill Institute at Round Top, where I was chosen by audition to perform and study with professional trumpet players in the orchestra field. An accomplished performer, I was awarded 2nd place in the Military Excerpts Division and was a semi-finalist in the Graduate Solo Division of the 2025 National Trumpet Contest. 

While studying music education as an undergraduate at Texas State University, I discovered my passion for genres outside western classical, performing Mariachi and Jazz both as a freelancer and with the university ensembles. I feel right at home playing anything from 12-bar blues to Son Jalisciense!

Currently, she I am the adjunct instructor of trumpet at Alma College and a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where I was a graduate assistant studying with Justin Emerich.

In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, plucking guitar, and on weekends I play Dungeons and Dragons with my friends!