Education is the heart of San Jose Jazz. Studies show that students involved in music do better at almost all facets of their lives and achieve more in the long run.

In January 2011, the San Jose Jazz Board of Directors officially made education the organization’s lead priority. In September 2011, Executive Director Michael Miller announced the reorganization of San Jose Jazz' education activities, focusing on four flagship programs. Learn more.

2011-12 Programs

Festival dedicated to showcasing the best of regional youth jazz bands and amazing young talent. This stage is also home to our Introduction to Jazz for Kids programs in which young players can interact with noted festival artists before hearing them in concert.

Progressions

San Jose Jazz Students: Post Secondary Music Education,
Recognition & Awards

Current Post Secondary Music Education

Gregory Chen – Manhattan School of Music

Kevin Wang – The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music

Sutton Marley – University of North Texas (Jazz Studies Scholarship)

Frank Silva – Berklee College of Music

Michael W. Davis – Manhattan School of Music (Presidential Scholarship)

Matthew Davis – California Institute of the Arts

Richard Sears -  University of Southern California

Yuma Sung – Manhattan School of Music

David Creel – University of the Pacific

Brama Sukarma – New York University

Chi Tran – University of California Los Angeles

Recognition & Awards

2010 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award – Laila Smith, for her tune "I Don't Understand"

2010 Downbeat Student Music Award – Laila Smith, for outstanding performance for high school vocal jazz ensemble

2010 Grammy Foundation Jazz Choir – Laila Smith, as a finalist and a freshman

2010 CMEA/CAJ All-State Jazz Choir – Laila Smith, as a freshman under the direction of Greg Jasperse and Christine Guter

2010 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award – Laila Smith, at age 15 the youngest recipient this year

2010 Reno Jazz Festival – Laila Smith, the outstanding high school vocalist (one of the largest student competitions on the West coast)

2010 The UMass-Amherst Jazz – Laila Smith, in July two week program by audiion and for a 50% scholarship: to study with Sheila Jordan

2010 Santa Cruz Jazz Festival – Laila Smith, for a 50% tuition scholarship to the Berklee 5-Week Summer Program as the outstanding  vocalist

2010  Monterey Next Generation Festival – Laila Smith, for a full tuition scholarship to the Berklee 5-Week Summer Program by  audition

2009 Downbeat Student Music Award – Laila Smith, winner for junior high school jazz vocal soloist

2009 CMEA All-State Middle School Honor Choir – Laila Smith, selected for the inaugural and featured trio and percussion accompanist

2009 Folsom Jazz Festival Scholarships – Giancarlo Antonelli, Gregory Chen

2009 Folsom Jazz Festival Soloist Awards – Giancarlo Antonelli, Nick Sutton, Daniel Merriott, Gregory Chen, Johanne Ramirez, Denis Tran, Chi Tran

2009 Folsom Jazz Festival Scholarships – Giancarlo Antonelli, Gregory Chen, Chi Tran

2009 Campana Jazz Festival – Laila Smith $250 Scholarship to Stanford Jazz Camp

2009 Reno Jazz Festival – Giancarlo Antonelli (Outstanding Overall Highschool Musician)

2009 Reno Jazz Festival – Johanne Ramirez (Outstanding High School Drummer)

2009 Monterey Jazz Festival – Giancarlo Antonelli, Full Scholarship to Berklee Jazz Workshop

2009 Monterey Jazz Festival – Johanne Ramirez, 30% Scholarshop to Berklee Jazz Workshop

2009 Stanford Jazz Workshop – Johanne Ramirez, Outstanding Highschool Musician w/ full scholarship; Laila Smith, Outstanding Junior High Musician w/ full scholarship

2009 Downbeat Magazine’s top junior high school jazz vocal soloist in the country – Laila Smith

2009 California All State Jazz Band Members – Johanne Ramirez and Gregory Chen

2009 Jazz Band of America – Gregory Chen

Monterey's 2009 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra – Gregory Chen

2008 Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony – Gregory Chen

2006 Pianist of the Grammy Trio – Yuma Sung

2002 Downbeat “Best Original Song” Junior High Division – Yuma Sung

2004 Reno Jazz Festival “Outstanding Performer on Piano” in the high school division – Yuma Sung

2004 Downbeat Student Music Award “Oustanding Performances in Piano” – Yuma Sung

2004 Downbeat Student Music Award “Best Jazz Arrangement” – Yuma Sung

“Yuma Style” CD released in 2005 on Columbia Music Entertainment – Yuma Sung

San Jose Jazz education programs are brought to you in part by