I remember my passion for music began in fourth grade when I thought playing the saxophone with friends would be fun. My parents say that my love of music began years earlier, as I enjoyed parent-toddler Music Together classes more than any other activity. The photos show they are correct. Today, I’m a committed jazz musician preparing to study at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton. I auditioned on the baritone saxophone—my primary instrument—and will continue expanding my skills on other saxophones and woodwind doubles. I am accepted into University of the Pacific’s First Years Honors Program and as a Pacific Humanities Scholar, which is an interdisciplinary program fostering the pursuit of “arts, literature, media, modern languages, music, history, culture, and philosophy.” I am excited to continue learning how music incorporates and improves other aspects of society. I see music not just as a career, but as a lifelong commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities. My goal is to be a professional musician, and I also aim to teach, compose, and contribute to my community through mentorship. One of the more meaningful experiences I have had is volunteering with Better Together, a program that connects high school students and senior citizens, some of whom are in assisted living facilities. I saw firsthand how the spark of a memory can bring comfort, and joy and connect generations of individuals. Whether exchanging family histories, chatting about music, or simply sharing time, I learned about connecting with others and how music’s power goes far beyond performance, but is a bridge of human connections and experiences. High school gave me that sense of purpose. Jazz band introduced me to improvisation and self-expression, where creativity and quick thinking thrived. I challenged myself to take solos and listen more deeply to my bandmates, and to the moment. This helped shape both my voice as a player and my instincts as a collaborator. Wind ensemble and AP Music Theory expanded my foundation. Our director, Mr. Cloyd, set a high bar that pushed me toward technical precision. I was honored to receive The Instrumentalist Musicianship Award three times. As a section leader in the marching band, I developed leadership and communication skills. The energy of game nights and competitions created a sense of unity and pride, demonstrating that music was a powerful force for connection. My team pride and spirit were evident, and I was passed down the legacy role as the “spirit leader” my senior year, being trusted with the school’s Spirit Spoon. I’ve sought opportunities to make music meaningful for others. I mentored younger students as a music camp counselor and volunteer tutor. I arranged music for school musicals, accompanied choir students, and raised funds to support our program. I recruited classmates to join ensembles, broadening our music community. I perform as a member of the East Bay Jazz High School All Stars, collaborating with talented students and Grammy-winning professionals. These experiences constantly challenge me to grow as an artist and expand my understanding of the power of music. Music helped me discover my voice. Now, I want to help others find theirs, whether through performance, teaching, or simply encouraging. In college, I look forward to deepening my craft while actively contributing to my community through music outreach, education, and service. Thank you for considering me for the Alice M. Williams Legacy Scholarship. Your support will help me continue using music as a force for connection, creativity, and community, one note and one shared rhythm at a time.

My passion for music began in fourth grade, when I thought playing saxophone with friends would be fun. But my parents say it started even earlier—during parent-toddler Music Together classes. Judging by the photos of me drumming and singing with pure joy, they were right. Today, I’m a dedicated jazz musician preparing to study music at the University of the Pacific Conservatory in Stockton. I auditioned on my primary instrument, the baritone saxophone, and will continue developing my skills on other saxophones and woodwind doubles. I am accepted into the First-Year Honors Program and the Pacific Humanities Scholars Program, an interdisciplinary community that explores how art, literature, music, and culture shape the human experience. I’m especially excited to study how music can support and improve communities. My long-term goal is to become a professional performing musician, but more than that, I aim to give back. I believe music is a tool for building stronger, more inclusive communities. I want to use my platform to teach, mentor, and uplift others, especially young musicians. My high school music program shaped both my skills and my sense of purpose. Jazz band introduced me to improvisation, where I learned to take creative risks, listen deeply, and respond to the moment. I challenged myself to improve, frequently taking solos and encouraging my peers to do the same. That freedom of expression lit a spark in me that continues to drive my musical journey. Wind ensemble and AP Music Theory deepened my technical foundation. Playing complex repertoire alongside passionate peers, and under the guidance of our director, Mr. Cloyd, taught me the value of discipline, nuance, and leadership. Mr. Cloyd’s high expectations pushed me to grow as both a musician and a role model. I was honored to receive the Instrumentalist Musicianship Award three times under his direction. As a marching band section leader, I developed communication and team-building skills. The pride and unity I felt during performances showed me how music connects people, on and off the field. My leadership was recognized my senior year when I was passed down the role of “spirit leader,” entrusted with the school’s “Spirit Spoon.” I’ve also worked to strengthen the music community at my school. As a counselor for our music camp and a volunteer tutor, I mentored younger students and watched their confidence grow. I arranged music for school musicals, accompanied choir students, and fundraised to support our program. I also recruited classmates to join bands, expanding our ensembles and sharing the joy of music with new performers. Outside of school, I perform with the East Bay Jazz High School All Stars, where I’ve collaborated with Grammy winning artists and top students from across the region. These experiences continually challenge me and show me what’s possible when talented, passionate musicians come together. Jazz helped me discover my own voice, and now, I want to help others find theirs. At the University of the Pacific, I will continue seeking opportunities to grow, perform, and give back. Whether I’m leading a band, composing for a community ensemble, or mentoring a young musician, I see every note as a chance to make a difference. Thank you for considering me for the Marshall and Dorothy Smith Music Scholarship. Your support will help me turn my passion into education and a force for connection, creativity, and community.

Jazz is more than music to me. It is a way to express, connect, and grow. I am a jazz musician who will study music at the University of the Pacific Conservatory in Stockton. I auditioned on my primary instrument, the baritone sax, and plan to develop my skills on my other saxophones and woodwind doubles. My goal is to be a professional performing musician, and I also aim to teach, compose, and contribute to my community through music and mentorship. I am accepted into University of the Pacific’s First Years Honors Program and as a Pacific Humanities Scholar, which is an interdisciplinary program fostering the pursuit of “arts, literature, media, modern languages, music, history, culture, and philosophy.” I am excited to continue learning how music incorporates and improves other aspects of society. I remember my passion for music began in fourth grade when I thought playing the saxophone with friends would be fun. My parents say that my love of music began years earlier, as I enjoyed parent-toddler Music Together classes more than any other activity. The photos show they are correct. My high school music program shaped my skills and my sense of purpose. Jazz band introduced me to a new musical freedom. Improvisation demanded creativity and quick thinking, and I learned to trust my instincts and take risks. I strived to improve and always requested solos. Performing jazz taught me to listen more deeply to my bandmates, to the groove, and to the moment. That experience ignited a love for musical exploration and self-expression that continues to drive me today. Taking AP Music Theory expanded my understanding of music. Wind ensemble sharpened my technical skills and musical discipline. Playing challenging repertoire among gifted peers taught me how to embrace nuance and precision, especially outside my jazz comfort zone. Our director, Mr. Cloyd, pushed us to meet high expectations, and his influence helped me grow as both a performer and leader. My music dedication has earned me honors, including jazz competition awards, and The Instrumentalist Musicianship Award three times by Mr. Cloyd. As a section leader in the marching band, I developed leadership and communication skills. The energy of game nights and competitions created a sense of unity and pride, demonstrating that music was a powerful force for connection and expression. My team pride and spirit were evident, and I was passed down the school saxophone section legacy role as the “spirit leader” my senior year, being trusted with the school’s Spirit Spoon. As a counselor at my high school’s music camp and volunteer tutor, I mentored younger students. Watching the students grow more confident and expressive affirmed my belief in music’s power to inspire, and to have fun. I played pit and arranged music for the school musicals and accompanied choir students during their performances. I fundraised for the school’s music program and recruited friends into various bands. I am involved in music outside of school, including as a member of the East Bay Jazz High School All Stars, where I perform with talented students and seasoned professionals including Grammy winners. Jazz helped me find my unique voice as a musician, something I now will refine in a collegiate setting. I will continue challenging myself, taking an active role in many ensembles. Ultimately, I see jazz not just as a career, but as a lifelong calling to build stronger, more inclusive communities, one note, one person, and one shared rhythm at a time. Thank you for considering me for the Hot Jazz Jubilee Music Scholarship.