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.