BY KAREN BOSSICK

Jonathan Dely set his sights on becoming an investment banker on Wall Street at an early age, inspired by the careers of his friends’ parents on Long Island, N.Y.

But it took one summer internship at one of the biggest investment banking and real estate investment firms on Wall Street to decide that was not what he wanted. On the eve of accepting a full-time six-figure salary, he turned his back on Wall Street to become a solo trumpet artist.

And on Thursday, Sept. 26, he will bring his award-winning trumpet playing to the Argyros in Ketchum, along with his All-Star Band from New York City. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. Tickets start at $28, available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35937/performance/11503349.

“I wasn’t brought into music by my parents. I trained in school to become Wall Street Investment banker—I had my eye on that for years and years. I even played on a golf team at Williams College, a prestigious college in the Northeast, with the goal of networking with people like the friends of my parents,” said Dely, who is now 31.

“But, when I got to the office at 21 years of age, I realized that I was going to be sitting at a desk 18 hours a day in a place with a low ceiling and everybody looking kind of sad. It was not the dreamy sexy thing you see in the movies. So, I ditched the dream I had been working towards all my life and made room for what had always been in life but never allowed to take center stage.”

In fact, Dely has been blowing his horn since he was 11. He developed an affinity for jazz music from a trumpet teacher who happened to be a jazz musician and he played with friends on weekends.

“I grew up in a culture where you were expected to become a doctor or lawyer or, ideally, go to work on Wall Street. But luckily, my parents didn’t share that attitude toward my career—they just wanted me to pursue whatever brings me joy and fulfilment.”

Still, Dely admits, it was tough to decline the Wall Street offer with nothing else on the horizon, especially given the shockwaves that registered through his network of professionals and family friends.

But a nearly full-ride scholarship to Manhattan School of Music where he earned a Master’s degree assured him that maybe he could do it. He earned finalist honors in the National Trumpet Competition, the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition and the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition. He began playing at spectacular venues, including the Lincoln Center in New York City, SF JAZZ in San Francisco and The NAMM Show in Los Angeles.

And in 2023 his story caught the eye of Bob Giraldi, the legendary filmmaker who directed Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Giraldi told Dely’s story in a short film called “Goodbye Jonathan’s Soul, which will be screened during the Sept. 26 concert.

Dely has been called the next Chris Botti by the Lincoln Center Future Songbook Series producer. “He is an extraordinary talent and a remarkable young man. A star in the making,” said Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Dely is looking forward to performing in Montana and Idaho—two places he’s never played before.

“Casey Mott, the artistic director of the Argyros, got wind of my work in New York City, and I’m super grateful to him for his belief and trust in me  as somebody who’s never been to Idaho,” he said. “I’ll be showing up with an amazing band—some of the world’s best young musicians, two of whom live in New York City and two of whom live in other cities. I have the most incredible, extraordinary, talented people traveling with me so you’re not coming to see a trumpet player who pulled together a band at last minute but you’re seeing a great ensemble--people who are at the top in guitar, piano, bass and drums.”

Dely’s concert will span multiple musical genres.

“While I consider myself to be a jazz musician, we will play other genres, such as classical, rock, pop music. I call it ‘music Neapolitan’ and the audience will see an entire band of people at the top of their craft that is able to be very chameleon and adapt to different styles.”

Dely has his eyes set on recording his first album.

“But it’s very expensive to record a record and a lot goes into it,” he said. “Still, I hope to be doing just that towards end of the year with the idea of it coming out next year.”

Is he happy with the choice he made 10 years ago?

“I sure am. I’m very satisfied I made the right choice.”

Jonathan Dely and his All Star Band will play The Argyros on Thursday, Sept. 26. COURTESY: Jonathan Dely