Local musician Audrey Ochoa nominated for her first JUNO award

Audrey Ochoa, an Edmonton-based trombone player and music teacher, was teaching her sixth grade class when she got a text from Brandon Eunice, her sound engineer. Puzzled, she opened her phone and realized it was a screenshot of her first JUNO nomination. She had been nominated for Solo Jazz Album of the Year for her fourth album, The Head Of A Mouse.

Ochoa excitedly told her students the news, although she was mostly met with looks of confusion. The JUNOs aren’t “a big thing in the twelve-year-old sphere.” Regardless of what her students thought, this nomination is a major career milestone for her.

“It’s not why you make albums, and it’s not why you write music, and it’s not why you perform … but recognition is nice,” Ochoa says

Ochoa emphasized that “it’s not about awards, it’s about creating art,” but admitted that winning a JUNO has been a goal for her.

“It’s not why you make albums, and it’s not why you write music, and it’s not why you perform … but recognition is nice,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa has been immersed in music her whole life. Her parents met “playing in oom-pah bands at Oktoberfest gigs around Edmonton.” Both her and her sisters have been playing instruments since childhood.

“We weren’t exactly the von Trapps, but at Christmas we always had to perform for our guests,” she said.

Ochoa’s parents always supported her musical aspirations. Her father encouraged her to pursue music while also ensuring she always had security. Ochoa ended up pursuing a music/education degree at the University of Alberta. She has now been teaching music for almost 15 years while also performing outside of her teaching job.

“Your influences … create the language that you use to improvise and that’s your story,” Ochoa says

When asked about her inspiration for The Head Of A Mouse, Ochoa told a story about a phrase a former co-worker and U of A student told her. He had hired her for one of her first jazz gigs, and told her “you have to play your story,” which is something Ochoa has always taken to heart.

“Your influences … create the language that you use to improvise and that’s your story,” she said.

The album was also influenced by her father. The title “The Head of a Mouse” comes from a saying he used to tell her — “it’s better to be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion” — which she harkened back to in the creation of this album.

“He would tell me this to sort of say … lead your own projects, instead of being hyped to be in somebody else’s band,” she explained.

Ochoa applied the knowledge of how to record and produce that she amassed over the years to spearhead and lead the creation of her fourth album. The Head Of A Mouse also marks the first time she has sung on an album, which she is quite proud of.

Ochoa is one of four female Edmonton artists nominated for a JUNO this year. She emphasized that she is thrilled to be nominated among so many local, talented women.

“I’m really proud to be a part of this with … these … hustling Edmonton women. I love that … we’re repping Edmonton,” she said.

Ochoa will be attending the JUNOs in Vancouver on March 30. The ceremony will be available to stream on CBC Gem.