[3] She has performed at the Kennedy Center, and was a runner up for the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

[2][4] Thurman took up music at a young age, as she grew up in the St. Albans section of Queens, New York, practicing vocals, piano, and flute before attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts.

[2][5] Thurman moved back to New York City following her graduation, and played with a wide array of jazz musicians, particularly crediting saxophone player Tia Fuller and vocalist/bassist Mimi Jones with helping her in those early years.

[5] Thurman went on to place as a finalist in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, garnering much attention, and leading to her first record deal.

[2] Over December 2014 to January 2015 Thurman appeared alongside Charenee Wade, Cyrille Aimée, Allan Harris and an eight-piece band including bassist Mimi Jones in Alex Webb (musician)'s jazz theatre show Cafe Society Swing, at New York's 59E59 Theaters, which received a Critic's Pick from The New York Times.