Miguel de la Cerna is a Chicago-based pianist, composer, and bandleader rooted in the city’s rich jazz lineage. A third-generation musician, he began his studies with James A. Mundy, founder of the South Side School of Grand Opera, and later trained at the American Conservatory of Music and Oberlin Conservatory.

De la Cerna has performed and toured internationally as a pianist and conductor, and has collaborated with artists including Kahil El’Zabar, Dee Alexander, and Corey Wilkes. His work spans jazz, classical, and world music traditions, with a focus on composition and ensemble interplay.

A two-time commissioned composer for the Orion Ensemble, de la Cerna has also been featured in the documentary For the Left Hand. In 2022, he was commissioned by the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. Based in Chicago, he continues to perform, compose, and lead projects that reflect both tradition and forward movement. He currently serves as Music Director for the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s JazzCity concert series.