Aurora Nealand is a sound artist and multi-instrumentalist based in New Orleans and NYC. Voted "Best Female Performer” and "Best Saxophonist" in the 2016, 17, 19 Gambit & OffBeat awards, Nealand has become a prominent force in the New Orleans music scene since she first arrived in 2004. She is widely recognized as a saxophonist and band leader for The Royal Roses. Nealand's other musical projects span from The Monocle Ensemble (her original music and performance pieces), to the Instigation Orchestra (improvising sound and movement artists from New Orleans and Chicago). Nealand has performed as a featured artist at national & international festivals including Summerstage NYC, Istanbul Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Natal (Brasil) Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Stockholm Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, & Big Ears Festival.
She has worked in musical collaboration with artists Arto Lindsay, Tim Berne, Joe Lally (Fugazi), Germaine Bazzle, Bill Frisell, John Boutte, Solange Knowles, Alex Harvey (film score). She has been awarded residencies at the MacDowell Colony, Pivot Arts (Chicago), Atlantic Center for the Arts, and frequently collaborates with Found Sound Nation (NYC).