Jaden Teague-Nunez blends his Caribbean roots with classical music mastery. His talent, humble persona, and global ambitions for pan link tradition with innovation. At only 17, Jaden’s schedule is as packed as seasoned musicians’. During the 2025 National YoungArts Week in Miami, Florida, he barely had time for a quick phone call home at night, with his days filled with rehearsals, workshops, and mentoring from top artists.
He performed with a musical ensemble, auditioning with A Visit to Hell, composed by his father, Professor Liam Teague. Jaden also auditioned with Ján Bach’s Concerto for Steelpan and Orchestra and Kevin Bobo’s Running Late. At the Jamboree concert, he shared the stage with a violinist for a duet. “I made great friends,” he told PanTalk. “At first, I was very shy because I knew no one there. But they were accepting and supportive, so I got comfortable with them.” The highlight of YoungArts Week for Jaden was collaborating with other musicians. “It was such an amazing feeling being surrounded by such talents and so many people who love classical music the way I do.”
Jaden began playing pan at eight, after getting a tenor as a gift. Soon, he expanded his repertoire, learning cello pans, double second pans, piano, and other percussion instruments, including timpani and drums. By 10, he was already on the piano, which he believes is an asset for any musician aiming for a music career. Jaden has performed as a steelpan and piano soloist with collegiate steel bands and orchestras across the United States.
“I play jazz, soca, pop, and calypso, but classical music is my love,” he admits. “I saw what my father was doing was cool and realized there are different avenues for steelpan to be world-recognized. I want it to be normal that you can go to a philharmonic concert and see a steelpan soloist.”
Jaden isn’t waiting for others to do it. He has already had guest soloist appearances alongside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra in Aurora, Illinois, which has a strong ensemble program for young musicians.
YoungArts has been transformative for Jaden, both for the music and its mentorship and career-building opportunities. As a winner, he now has access to exclusive creative support, microgrants, and presentation opportunities with major venues and cultural partners nationwide. Equally valuable is becoming part of YoungArts’ intergenerational network of past award winners.
Much of Jaden’s poise comes from the guidance of his parents. His father, Professor Liam Teague, is Director of Steel Band Studies at Northern Illinois University, a Panorama arranger, and a globally recognized steelpan soloist who has performed with national symphonies around the world. His mother, Lorena Nunez, was the principal violist with the Panama National Symphony Orchestra, and his sister, Jeida Teague-Nunez, also plays the pan, piano and percussion.
Jaden also draws inspiration from the music and arrangements of Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Ray Holman , the late Jit Samaroo, Leon “Smooth” Edwards, Victor Provost, Leon "Foster" Thomas, Andre White, Kareem Thompson, Amrit Samaroo, Duvone Stewart, and others. But he doesn’t limit himself. He’s exploring Panorama music and, when time allows, plays with the Northern Illinois University steel band, occasionally jumping into the engine room.
Last year, Jaden made history as the first steelpan player to win the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. His performance of A Visit to Hell was a defining moment—not just for his career, but for the instrument he’s determined to showcase.
Although he is an obedient son, Jaden is setting his path and plotting his journey. He aims to prove that the steelpan is more than a Caribbean cultural icon – that it’s a serious concert instrument with global reach. His talent, drive, and his family’s strong musical background have pushed him to carve out a space for the pan on many of the world’s biggest stages. Jaden is pushing boundaries and showing the pan world that this is only the start of a remarkable career.