2023 YOUTH JAZZ FELLOWSHIPS ANNOUNCED

Kansas City Area Youth Jazz Inc. Announces the Youth Jazz Fellowships and Ensemble Assignments for the 2023 Season!

The 2023 Youth Jazz Fellowships include positions for three (3) ensembles. Two ensembles focused on instrumental jazz music and one new ensemble focused on vocal jazz music. Congratulations to each of the following candidates for being awarded a 2023 Youth Jazz Fellowship. Ensemble assignments are below:

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WATSON ENSEMBLE 

• Michael Suriano – guitar (KCKCC, Jazz Studies)
• Isaac Pieters – bass (Ottawa University, Jazz Studies)
• Blue Noyes – drums (Basehor-Linwood High School)
• Levi Birks – drums (Olathe Northwest High School)
• Jacob Fry – vocalist (Ottawa University, Jazz Studies)
• Nick Weaver – trumpet/flugelhorn (DeSoto High School)
• Dallas Hall – trumpet/flugelhorn (Pittsburg State University, Jazz Studies)
• Henry Scamurra – alto saxophone (UMKC Conservatory, Jazz Studies)
• Jackson Harrison – tenor saxophone (UMKC Conservatory, Jazz Studies)
• Aidan Hamer – trombone (DeSoto High School)
• Gregory Carroll – piano (KCAYJ Clinician)

CLINICIANS: Gregory Carroll and David Cunningham

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CRAIN ENSEMBLE

• Miles Clemons – piano (Berklee College of Music)
• Truman Mathena – bass (UMKC Conservatory, Jazz Studies)
• Quinn Spear – drums (UMKC, University Studies)
• Javier Cruz – drums (Shawnee Mission Northwest High School)
• Logan Smoot – trumpet/flugelhorn (Ottawa University, Jazz Studies)
• Luke Inman – trumpet/flugelhorn (UMKC, Jazz Studies)
• Dylan Reed – alto saxophone (Shawnee Mission Northwest High School)
• Josiah Assefa – tenor saxophone + clarinet (Olathe Northwest High School)
• Will Kimlinger – baritone saxophone (Platte County High School)

CLINICIANS: Christopher Burnett and Houston Smith

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BRADY/SMITH VOCAL ENSEMBLE 

• Maurice Butler – drums (MCC Penn Valley, Music Performance)
• WM Thornton – piano and arranger (KCAYJ Clinician)
• VOCALIST AUDITIONS PENDING RESULTS

CLINICIAN: REV WM Thornton