A quintet of PJCE musicians perform music by the 2023 cohort of Young Jazz Composers! Join us at The 1905 to hear original music by high school and college-age composers written with the guidance of professional composers and performers.

The Young Jazz Composers program is a mentorship and performance opportunity for students to learn the ins and outs of composing for a professional jazz ensemble. Through one-on-one private lessons and professional group feedback, students will gain valuable insight into the idiosyncrasies of composing. By the end of the program, students will be able to understand the basic skills needed to compose a tune, use digital notation software, and correctly notate parts for rhythm section and horns.

The 2023 YJC band features Mary-Sue Tobin on saxophone, Pablo Rivarola on trumpet, Todd Marston on piano, Ben Medler on bass, and Tyson Stubelek on drums.

Livestream is available for this performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pybgjueKXMU

The 2023 Young Jazz Composers:

Natalie Adamson plays alto saxophone and leads an all girls jazz combo at Grant Highschool where she is a Junior. Outside of music, she likes traffic cones. She joined YJC because she wanted to gain the capacity to notate and express my musical ideas and create!

Opal Rockett plays classical cello and jazz piano and loves composing for both instruments. Her favorite things to do include playing music with friends, reading, and biking around Portland. She joined the YJC because she wants to learn more about jazz composition.She is a junior at Franklin Highschool.

Rowan Ducker is a Sophomore at Lake Oswego High School, a Pianist, and an avid performer. He has loved music for his entire life, along with visual arts and theater. He joined the young jazz composers program in order to make something new, something that people could listen to and enjoy. He hopes that you enjoy!

Zack Horton is a Senior Sonic Arts and Music Production student at PSU. He produces music but mainly plays the piano and bass. He joined YJC because he is getting into composition and would like to learn how to better compose.

Sam Dody is a senior at Franklin High School this year, where he’s a bandleader for a jazz combo and  arranges music for our big band. He’s been playing piano for 11 years and saxophone for 5. He joined the Youth Jazz Composers program because he wanted to take all of his skills and knowledge from playing and arranging and put them towards something purely creative.

Wyatt Webberley has an AA in Music from Clark College and is a pianist who loves playing and listening to all different types of music, especially jazz. He enjoys jamming over jazz standards with others and bringing new music to life through composition. He joined the Young Jazz Composers program to better himself as a musician as he seeks to find a career in this field in the future.

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