My experience in the New York Youth Symphony began with the Jazz Band’s 2015-2016 season. I had been encouraged to audition by a friend that was in the band the year before, and I did so excitedly but also worried that I would not make it in. I was absolutely beside myself when I received my acceptance email and became an official member of the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band. I have now been a member of the band for three years and I can honestly say that each of those years has been an amazing experience and journey, no one year better than the others. Over the course of my three years of involvement with the band I have been provided with so many outstanding opportunities it is hard to list them all here! I have had the fortune to work with not only one amazing director of the Jazz Band, but two; I have been able to play with the Jazz Band at Dizzy’s Club Cocoa Cola; I have been able to play alongside guest artists such as Victor Goines, Sean Jones, Robin Eubanks to name a few; And I was even able to travel to Brazil with the band during my first season! I am truly grateful for all of the opportunities I have had through New York Youth Symphony and I plan to take all of the experience I have gained into my career as I graduate from NYU this year. I hope to become a working musician, playing in bands and putting together my own projects in the coming years!