Recently awarded the HOJ Scholarship, Roberto Cisneros,  is a talented trumpet player from Wayne, NJ, whose passion for jazz was sparked early by his father’s love of music, Robbie is deeply grateful for the opportunity, which not only provides financial support but also connects him to a community of peers and mentors.. 

Though his dad wasn't a musician, his extensive music collection exposed Robbie to a wide range of sounds, which set the stage for his own musical journey. It wasn’t until his senior year of high school, during a summer jazz program at William Paterson University, that he truly discovered his passion for jazz. This experience led him to join Jazz House Kids, a program that further fueled his dedication and pushed him to pursue music more seriously.

Robbie began playing trumpet in 4th grade, and today, as a freshman at William Paterson University, he’s developing a unique voice as an artist. He describes his style as expressive, with a focus on tone and warmth, and has been diving into improvisation for the past several months, always striving to be melodic in his playing. Drawing inspiration from jazz legends like Roy Hargrove, Freddie Hubbard, and Art Farmer, as well as contemporary players like Jeremy Pelt, he credits the importance of listening and learning from others in shaping his sound.

A few of Robbie's most memorable experiences in jazz so far include performing in New Orleans with other jazz students where he shared the stage with Wyclef Jean, and playing alongside bass legend Christian McBride—moments that have inspired him to continue pursuing his dreams in the jazz world. He points to Roy Hargrove’s rendition of "Someday My Prince Will Come" as a piece that profoundly influenced his musical direction.

Robbie will be getting one on one advice and guidance from his HOJ supplied mentor, Antione Drye. Looking ahead, he plans to further his studies in sound engineering, continue developing fluency with his instrument, and build meaningful relationships within the jazz community. He is especially thankful to Nathan Eklund, Jason Marshall, and Caili O'Doherty at Jazz House Kids, as well as Marcus McLaurine at the WPU Summer Jazz Program, for their guidance and mentorship along the way.

Roberto Cisnero’s mentor is Antione Drye.