Mia Traverse Music

Mia Traverse is an emerging composer and arranger with a passion for crafting engaging music for large ensembles, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Based in the Midwest, she has been commissioned to write both original works and arrangements for professional musicians in the Indianapolis and Milwaukee areas. These collaborations have allowed her to work closely with esteemed artists such as Dan Maske, Rich Dole, Matt Pivec, Nikki Roman, and others.

Her recent works include Side by Side (2024) for jazz combo, Shades of Blue (2024) for saxophone quartet, and Legacy (2022) for concert band. Traverse’s music blends a wide range of stylistic influences—from Western European classical traditions to American jazz and contemporary pop—resulting in fresh, accessible pieces that resonate with performers and audiences alike.

A dedicated music educator and recent graduate of Butler University, where she studied Music Education and Jazz Studies, Traverse is especially passionate about writing meaningful yet approachable repertoire for young musicians. Her work includes educational arrangements for programs such as the Butler Summer Jazz Camp and the Benny Golson Jazz Festival, where she creates exciting new settings of jazz standards for beginning to intermediate big bands.

In addition to her work as a composer and educator, Traverse is an active chamber musician. She leads the Blue Box Saxophone Quartet as both a performer and the group's primary arranger/composer. Her original works for saxophone ensemble have been featured at community events such as the Broad Ripple Farmers Market and Greenwood’s An Evening of Jazz Down in New Orleans.