Breaking down barriers as a female drummer.

SOFIA DETJEN is a 14x DownBeat Music Award-winning drummer, recording artist, sideperson, collaborator, and session musician. A Utah native, Sofia has quickly established herself as one of the most diverse and in-demand Gen Z drummers currently on the music scene. She is renowned for her immense talent, fierce creativity, and evolving musical style, and she consistently brings passion and joy to her performances.

She leads successful ensembles of her own and has collaborated on stage with highly reputable contemporary musicians, including Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty), Carl Allen, Wayne Bergeron, Ron Blake (Saturday Night Live Band, The Juilliard School), Randy Brecker, Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), Robbie Connolly (Fictionist, The Killers), Jerry Cortez (Tower of Power), Jody Espina, Gordon Goodwin (Big Phat Band), Karl Hunter (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), Tom "Bones" Malone (The Blues Brothers, SNL Band CBS Orchestra), Bryan E. Miller, Scotty Morris (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), David Paich (Toto), Dafnis Prieto, Poncho Sanchez, Steve Smith (Journey), Francisco Torres (Big Phat Band), Thurl Bailey, and Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones), and more. 

During her impressive six-year tenure with Caleb Chapman's Soundhouse, Sofia's dedication and talent propelled her to incredible achievements. Through countless performances, studio recordings, world tours, and valuable mentorship from esteemed musicians and educators, she played a pivotal role in amassing an impressive collection of accolades. Notably, her bands secured 14 DownBeat Music Awards and 11 Best of State Awards across a wide range of genres.

From 2020 to 2023, Sofia held the coveted position of lead drummer in the Soundhouse flagship ensemble, Caleb Chapman's Crescent Super Band. Renowned as the world's premier youth jazz ensemble, this group comprised exceptional jazz musicians aged 15 to 18 and held an impressive record of 36 DownBeat Music Awards. In her final year, the band made history by winning awards in the Large Jazz Ensemble, Latin Group, and Pop/Rock/Blues Group categories, an unprecedented feat.

Sofia's journey continues as she embarks on the next chapter of her musical career, pursuing advanced studies at Harvard University and Berklee College of Music in the esteemed Harvard-Berklee Dual Degree Program. However, her departure from Caleb Chapman's Soundhouse was not without leaving a lasting impact. Her final contributions to the Crescent Super Band's 2023 European Tour, where they headlined at prestigious events like Jazz à Vienne in France, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, and Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, showcased Sofia's remarkable talent and marked a memorable conclusion to her time with the band.

Additionally, Sofia's musical legacy extended to the band's sixth full-length album, "High Hopes." This powerful release featured dynamic new arrangements of popular songs by acclaimed artists such as Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Panic! At The Disco, Lizzo, and more. Through this album, Sofia demonstrated not only her exceptional musical prowess but also her unwavering commitment to pushing creative boundaries. The album stands as a testament to her artistry and serves as a fitting testament to her time with Caleb Chapman's Soundhouse.

Officially endorsed by Salt City Drums, Sofia proudly plays DW Drums, fitted with Remo Heads, damped with TruTone dampers, matched with Zildjian Cymbals, using Vic Firth Sticks. When she travels, she uses Ahead Armor Cases.