Hot Jazz Jubilee Music Scholarship

Music has always been an integral part of my life. The sounds of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Count Basie all helped shape my childhood. From the womb, I’ve been a loyal jazz enthusiast due to my mother’s habitual daily listening; it is no surprise that I became a jazz musician. My love of listening to music eventually blossomed into a love of playing music when, as a freshman, I joined my high school traditional jazz band, The Syncopating Sea Monkeys. I quickly learned that the best way to master the vocabulary of traditional jazz is through immersion and cataloging this music as part of my mental library. One pivotal experience with my high school band that bridged the concepts of both listening and performing was attending the Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee. The sheer amount of music being played over the long Labor Day weekend was transcendent. I was privileged to meet and play alongside world class musicians. A special moment occurred while sitting in for a set with Katie Cavera and the Lost Boys. My mental library awakened when I heard references to old recordings of the pioneers of jazz in professionals’ solos. I realized that for me, music doesn’t just feed the soul, but must also be expressed. This experience inspired me to actively engage with jazz music by giving it the attention and curiosity it deserves. This shift in perspective was profound because it defined my true calling as a musician. All of my performances, opportunities, and passion stemmed from this realization in my life and it revealed the answer to the “so what?” in the back of my mind: I can make a difference in the world playing my music. Soon after, I began mentoring younger musicians, volunteering my time through community service, and leading bands of my peers. An aspect of jazz performance that I hold in the highest regard is being able to serve others and connect with people through a shared experience, whether that involves entertaining, teaching students, or assisting in the community. Continuing my musical education would allow me to use my artistic skill to further focus my energy into service. Looking towards the future, I will be attending Loyola University New Orleans as a Jazz Studies major in the fall of 2026. I am incredibly excited to study at one of the best jazz programs in the United States and to have access to the thriving New Orleans jazz scene. While at Loyola, I plan on taking full advantage of the recording studios, jazz ensembles, on-campus music events, and networking opportunities. I am also eager to become a member of the working musician community in New Orleans and beyond. After graduation from Loyola, my goal is to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Instrumental Performance degree at the Frost School of Music. This extensive post-secondary education would provide the perfect foundation to fulfill my dream of becoming a music educator. Just as numerous musicians, teachers, and peers have inspired my growth as an artist, I hope to have the opportunity to give back to the music community by working to educate the next generation of artists. I’ve discovered that jazz is more significant than just personal virtuosity, it’s a collaborative effort among artists, and I am so excited to see how I can positively impact music in the future.

The trombone has become an integral part of my life that I could not live without, all because of my fourth-grade self. I wanted to join band just because I thought it would be another fun hobby, but when it came time to pick an instrument, I was at a loss, I had no real knowledge of any instrument. At the time, I could remember my even younger self sitting on the couch watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and seeing Goofy play the trombone. Due to this sudden memory, I decided the trombone was the funniest looking and sounding instrument out of the many options, and it had a connection to a kids tv show that I thought was hilarious. Surprisingly, I kept at the trombone all throughout middle school, and I knew from middle school that I would be attending Rio Americano High School which was renowned for its jazz program but I was unfamiliar with its merit. This is where I met two of my biggest musical influences. The first was my band director Mr. Murray. He explained to me during my freshman year the extreme skill that the top jazz band at the school had, saying that they are near a professional level. He made it mandatory for freshman to come to the first concert even though we did not perform, just so we could hear it. It was incredible. I couldn't believe high schoolers could sound that good. This made me want to do anything I could to get into that band. However, it was difficult for me to practice during the end of sophomore year, when my auditions would be, due to finals. I thankfully noticed that Mr. Murray arrived at school an hour early every day to work or set up the classroom, so I began to arrive before him to use the most time I could before class to practice. During that same year, I met a senior named Colin who fueled my trombone obsession. He sat next to me in our concert band and would always give me tips, teach me about important artists to listen to, give me private lessons, and be an overall positive influence. He once told me that people who practice 18 minutes a day every day improve more than people who practice one hour a day but not consistently, this stuck with me and helped create a passion for practicing. My newfound passion for both jazz and trombone helped me achieve my goal of getting accepted into the top band during my junior year, but more importantly than that, it gave me vast unexpected opportunities. Just that same year, our band made it into the Essentially Ellington Festival. Hearing those bands along with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra was my determining factor for wanting to pursue music. This new passion for continuing music helped me practice beyond just making my high school band, which created many opportunities. Such as acceptance into the Charles Mingus Festival, opening a concert for Wycliffe Gordon featuring my J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding Quintet, and being accepted into my dream music school, Manhattan School of Music. I aspire to pursue music because I want to be as proficient of a player as I can be. I know I have just scratched the surface of jazz and my time at Manhattan School of Music will really be able to take my technique and knowledge to another level. In my future, I hope to see myself playing gigs around NYC, meeting new friends and mentors, and teaching at a collegiate level in the future

I became interested in playing jazz in my sophomore year of high school. In exploring different parts of the vibrant Los Angeles music scene, I was struck by the intricacy and beauty of jazz. I was enraptured by the passion flowing out of musicians playing jazz, and the creativity they were allowed to have on stage, a stark contrast from the world of classical music. I was able to pick up the bass at my school, going to an arts conservatory, providing me with plenty of opportunities. Not long after picking up the instrument, I found myself in love with not only the music but the community brought forth through jazz. I have found myself consistently playing at a multitude of venues across Los Angeles, with various sets of players, and always having different experiences. I have fallen in love with the thrill of playing jazz and the community that surrounds it. I would love to continue to learn more about music going forward. I plan to pursue jazz performance in college. My goal is to get as proficient as possible on my instrument, as well as to foster a positive community wherever I end up. My future goals in music are to continue performing as much as possible. As of now, I have found relative success in the Los Angeles scene, recording with Karolina Rose, being a part of Ana Azerli's orchestra on the Hollywood Christmas parade, playing with Sal Valentenetti, and I have even got the offer and am planning to be a part of Richard Cheese's tour next summer. This success has been a blessing, and I want to continue to refine my skills and musicianship, in order tohave more and more amazing experiences, such as the ones I have already been blessed with. Additionally, I would love to teach children at some point. Money is a barrier for a large number of passionate and talented musicians, one day I would love to teach in a place where I know kids do not have as much of an opportunity to pursue their passions, to help push the youth into being more artistic and fulfilled. Money is a barrier when it comes to pursuing a higher education in music as well. This makes me verygrateful that foundations such as Hot Jazz Jubilee offer the potential to young and passionate musicians to alleviate this concern. Overall, I see myself playing jazz and loving music for the rest of my life. I am highly devoted to pursuing a career in music and honoring the beautiful, long-standing traditions of jazz as a whole, as well as bringing a positive feeling to all those who will allow me to play for and with them.

My musical journey began at age 9 when I started studying clarinet with Scott Dailey at Clock Tower Music in San Carlos. Within two years, I earned a Superior rating at the CMEA Solos and Ensembles Festival. My passion for jazz clarinet was sparked during morning car rides to middle school, listening to Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Johnny Dodds, and Sidney Bechet. In late 2020, multi-instrumentalist, jazz historian, Teagarden Jazz Camp Director, and KCSM radio host Clint Baker became my mentor, introducing me to early jazz. About a year and a half later, New Orleans clarinetist Evan Christopher took me under his wing. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to learn from many professional musicians who have shaped me both as a sideman and a bandleader. I began performing jazz professionally in 2021 at age 14 and have since played hundreds of shows across the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and North Carolina. My performances have taken place in dance halls, jazz clubs, festivals, livestreams, and private events, at venues ranging from the intimate Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club in San Francisco to the legendary Birdland Theater in New York City. Most recently, I played five consecutive nights with the Jonathan Stout Orchestra at Lindy Focus, one of the world’s largest swing dance festivals, performing on clarinet, tenor saxophone, lead alto saxophone, and soprano saxophone. In addition, I have served as the Principal Clarinetist for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra and Carlmont High School’s Symphony Orchestra, and have performed chamber music as the clarinetist and ensemble leader in a woodwind quintet. I’ve recently accepted an offer to attend a prestigious jazz conservatory in New York City, the heart of the jazz world. I’m excited to equip myself with the skills, discipline, and artistic depth needed to grow as both an artist and an educator. My ultimate goal is to honor and preserve the tradition of jazz through high-level performance and education. It’s been a privilege to perform at the Hot Jazz Jubilee over the past few years, sharing the stage with incredible musicians like Adrian Cunningham, Dave Bennett, Dan Barrett, Bob Draga, Katie Cavera, Clint Baker, etc.. Applying for a scholarship or grant from the HJJ is deeply meaningful to me. The festival’s mission of providing opportunities for young musicians has nurtured my growth in meaningful ways, and I would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to carry that support into the next chapter of my journey. Financial assistance would make it possible for me to continue pursuing my passion and give back to the jazz community in the years to come.

In 3rd grade, observing my 5th-grade sister’s ardor for learning the flute greatly inspired me to learn to play music myself. I began my musical journey on the flute in 4th grade, but the more I played, the more I found a particular interest in jazz saxophone. In middle school, I began absorbing myself in jazz music, practicing every day to try to learn to play how great jazz musicians played so well. At this time, I was deeply interested in the melodies and the way musicians could sound like everything they played so easily, and I knew I wanted to play like that one day. When I entered high school, I was introduced to a pool of extremely skilled upperclassmen musicians that motivated me even more. Since my freshman year, I have been a member of my school’s jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, and marching band, as well as indoor percussion for the past two years of high school. My high school experience in all the advanced instrumental ensembles my school offers, I have learned to love and appreciate many different forms of music while maintaining jazz as my core. In my time in many different ensembles at school, I have had many different music instructors from marching band and indoor percussion to wind ensemble and jazz. All the instructors and directors I have had the opportunity to have taught me different lessons in music that I can apply to all the different instruments I play. In addition, all their instruction and passion for music encouraged me to be more inspired by all the music I play and my desire to learn more. In college, I plan on participating in various music ensembles to deepen my overall knowledge of music. I see myself primarily performing in classical and jazz ensembles, to improve my skills as a saxophone player. Additionally, I plan on pursuing music education to one day be a band director with a strong and diverse music program that reflects my diverse musical background. Primarily, I am looking forward to learning more about jazz music to learn how to teach a big band ensemble as a middle school or high school band director. Outside of career goals, I would love to have my jazz combo after college to play jazz gigs in my community. As a music teacher, I see that there are not many ways to play your instrument as the teacher is busy teaching. In hopes of continuing my passion for playing my instrument, I would love to engage with my community and play the music that I love to play with other like-minded musicians. Playing in my jazz combo will allow me to continue my passion for playing music while also being involved in music as a teacher. In all, my excitement for jazz began my ever-growing passion for music and desire to continue after high school. I hope with my music education in college, I can touch the hearts of young musicians so they can share the same excitement for music that I have experienced. From playing in college ensembles or jazz combos, music will always be a part of my life, and I am excited to see where my passions will lead me in the future.

When I was in 1st grade, my parents made me go to my first piano lesson. At the time, I hated it, I couldn't understand why they were making me go once a week for lessons on an instrument I had no interest in. Over time, however, I grew to understand it, to love it. I started to see it as a way to express myself and a way to connect with the music I loved. Then, after a couple of years, I joined my school's band program, and I was enamored. I developed a deep love for brass instruments that carried me from trumpet, to euphonium, to tuba, and finally to trombone. It was during my time at Rio Americano High School that I discovered jazz music and the dedication of the students there, which led me to decide I had to be a jazz musician. Throughout my time at high school, I was helped by so many local musicians who have encouraged me and pushed me to do my best. The Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation has been especially encouraging in my process. From the first time I attended the Teagarden Jazz camp in 2022 to when I joined TNT in 2023, everyone involved has been incredibly supportive. All the great teachers I have been able to learn under have given me one thing above all else, a deep love and appreciation for Jazz music. Mentors like Brandon Au and Bob Williams have inspired me to continue the tradition by teaching the future generations of jazz musicians in the same way they taught me. The love for the music has blossomed and has become much more than a simple desire to play jazz; it has become a necessity. Jazz is an important music, and to continue its tradition, I knew I had to go to college to study it. I am very excited to be attending the New School in the fall, with a major in Jazz trombone performance. The New School is a great college to study jazz, with its world-class faculty and ideal location in New York City. I chose New York because it is a city with a rich jazz history; however, it is also very expensive, especially for an artist. This scholarship would greatly help me with all the costs associated with living in such an important city while studying Jazz at a great college.