Elijah Lester currently attends Temple University where he is a Jazz Piano Performance major studying under Bruce Barth and is the pianist for the Temple University Lab Band.
Elijah studied nine years of jazz piano with Paul Bratcher. He also played with Paul Carr and his Jazz Academy for nine years.
Elijah's awards and recognitions include:
- Named a 2025 National YoungArts Award Winner in Jazz/Piano
- Selected as the 2023 US Army Blues Solo Competition High School Division Winner
- One of 42 students chosen to participate in Lincoln Center's Summer Jazz Academy from 2022 to 2024
- Performed in esteemed venues such as Dizzy's Coca-Cola Club, Caramoor Jazz Festival, and South Jersey Jazz Society
Elijah's biggest musical influences include Kenny Kirkland, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Kelly, Chick Corea, and Red Garland. His favorite recording is Straight No Filter by Hank Mobley. He is from Alexandria, VA and in his spare time, he loves watching sports and movies with his family.
