Music has been a part of my life for many years. Through these years, I’ve had the opportunity to perform in many different groups, with many different people. Of all of these groups, the New York Youth Symphony Jazz band has been the most inspiring, informative, and entertaining group I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. The level of musicianship exhibited by each and every member is nothing short of outstanding, and it pushes me to get better every day. The success of this band is a product of many different circumstances, but a lot of it comes down to Matt Holman. The amount of knowledge, dedication, and energy that he brings into each rehearsal brings out the best in every musician in the room. Additionally, the guest artists that are brought in are the masters of the music world, bringing in their own unique style and energy to the concerts.

All this comes in combination with many other opportunities that came from being a member of the NYYS. Along with the incredible concerts at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Appel room, I was able to perform at Symphony Space, Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and even Carnegie Hall. If all that wasn’t enough, the NYYS is giving the jazz band the opportunity to travel to Sao Paolo, Brazil for its first tour. It is an fantastic honor to be able to represent such an amazing program in another country, and I am excited to share our music with other parts of the world. NYYS makes me unbelievably grateful to be a musician, and I am very proud to be a part of it.