Justin Trujillo is a composer and educator from California’s East Bay with a background in both jazz and classical idioms. Justin’s works have been performed by world-renowned ensembles including Hub New Music. Recognized as a “natural storyteller,” Justin’s music is inspired by personal experiences, culture, and events, shaped by influences ranging from early 20th-century concert music and Renaissance polyphony to alternative rock and hip-hop.

Justin received his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from California State University, Sacramento, where he studied under Shuying Li and pursued additional coursework in jazz studies and music education. During his final semester, he was awarded the 2025 Jeffrey Hoover Memorial Scholarship for excellence in composition. 

Justin was one of four composers selected to participate in the 2025-2026 Left Coast Chamber Ensemble PATHWAYS program.

Justin has presented guest lectures at community colleges on counterpoint and harmony, with the focus of making those topics more accessible by relating them to popular music. Additionally, he has led clinics at high schools in both saxophone technique and jazz improvisation.

Justin teaches private lessons in guitar, bass, saxophone, and theory, serves as the bass section leader at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Belvedere, and is a substitute teacher in West Contra Costa Unified School District. Outside of music, he enjoys hiking, photography, and scenic coastal drives, seeking inspiration from the natural landscapes around him.