Paolo Dumancas
Paolo Dumancas is a jazz trombonist, computer hardware engineer, arts administrator, and nonprofit leader based in Austin, Texas. He is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of ATX Artists for Social Impact, a grassroots nonprofit that builds partnerships between local artists and community organizations to uplift emerging artists and connect the creative economy with meaningful social impact. He oversees ATX Artists’ resident companies—the ATX Jazz Orchestra and Capital Contemporary Ballet—and leads programs such as Jams for Humanity, a community concert and jam series supporting mutual aid and social service organizations, and the ATX Artists Jazz Nutcracker, a contemporary ballet set to The Duke Ellington Nutcracker Suite featuring professional and emerging artists of color.
A Filipino immigrant raised in South Florida, Paolo moved to Austin in 2022, where his multidisciplinary background in arts, engineering, and technology continues to shape his work as a musician and community leader. He has served on committees for the Austin Jazz Society, Austin Traditional Jazz Society, and Filipino Young Professionals ATX, and performs at festivals and jazz venues including the Elephant Room, Parker Jazz Club, and Monks Jazz Club. Since 2023, he has played lead trombone for the Huston-Tillotson University (HTU) Jazz Orchestra and has participated in masterclasses with world-renowned jazz musicians, including members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 2025, Paolo spearheaded an HBCU Artist Development initiative with the HTU Jazz Program to mentor student musicians of color through performance opportunities, career training, and community engagement.
Paolo graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. His career centers on bridging technical expertise with creative expression and service—grounded in compassion and advocacy for equitable access to the arts, education, mental health support, refugee resettlement, and basic human rights.
