We’re kicking off the new school year!

Welcome back to the Roosevelt Jazz community! We’ve had our first Roosevelt Jazz Boosters meeting Sept. 7, a festive welcome picnic Sept. 8, and most importantly our jazz students are back in rehearsal. We have 74 students in four ensembles this year including three big bands as well as vocal jazz. If you are a parent or guardian of a Roosevelt Jazz student, you should have received your welcome packet by email; there are 2 required forms to return to [email protected] [website link to Welcome Packet]. Fill out the volunteer survey and consider how you can support our students: we are especially seeking a chair-elect and fundraising chair for our board. Dues commitment forms along with scholarship information will be coming next. And if you’re a jazz fan, check out the opportunity to hire a Roosevelt Jazz combo to play at your next event! (Go to “Support the Program” above, and click on Hire the Band.) We’re so glad to see our directors and students back making music together.

2021 – 2022 Jazz Ensemble Placements

Jazz Band Picture

The 2021-2022 Roosevelt Jazz ensemble placements are listed below. Thank you to everyone who auditioned. Now… go practice!

JB1

Saxes

  • Evan Mazor (alto)
  • Rachel Nolander (alto)
  • Owen Gwinn (tenor)
  • Taiyo Fuwa (tenor)
  • Liam Randell (bari)

Trumpets

  • Javier Gonzalez
  • Hans Faul
  • Holden Abramonte

Trombones

  • Parker Casazza
  • Charlie Herzog
  • Max Baker

Guitar

  • Maco Dacanay

Piano

  • Theo Shouse
  • Quinn Wedemeyer

Bass

  • Grace Kaste
  • Alex Roca

Drums

  • Alexander Polyakovsky
  • Yoshi Stroh

JB2

Saxes

  • Henry Kelly (alto)
  • Dylan Senescall (alto, f lute)
  • Charlee Dobson Cohen (alto)
  • Kiera Stanford (alto, clarinet)
  • Kyle Kushleika (tenor)
  • Cameron Moskito (tenor, clarinet, horn)
  • Ryan Boyle (tenor)
  • Yoshi Takeno (tenor)
  • Sky Van Scoyoc (tenor)
  • Jack Hillstrom (bari, clarinet)

Trumpets

  • Nico Garcia-Bompadre
  • Simon Harrington
  • Nicholas Chang

Trombones

  • Theo Long
  • Alexander Phelps
  • Will Bailey

Guitar

  • Oliver Mickelson
  • Varun Khanal

Piano

  • Nora Hakimian
  • Maya Stroh (if available)*

Bass

  • Nolan Wilson
  • Cole Fung

Drums

  • Ripley Silas
  • Luc Randell

JB3/4

Saxes

  • Matteo Dykstra (alto)
  • Stephanny Kannapell (alto)
  • Adelle Davies (alto)
  • Anna Sayrs (tenor)
  • Conor Esler (tenor)
  • Elena Boyle (tenor)
  • Leah Abraham (tenor, clarinet)
  • Lucas Schultze (tenor, clarinet)
  • Oliver Nairn (bari)

Trumpets

  • Justin Davies
  • Chloe Mai
  • Jasper Gronewald

Trombones

  • Maddie Mitchell (piano, trombone)

Guitar

  • Linus Skucas
  • Daniel Larsen
  • Aidan Jewett

Piano

  • Joshua Gargett

Bass

  • Naomi Cole
  • Brigid Bennett (if available)*

Drums

  • Izzy Haakanson
  • Bennett Hess (if available)*

Vocal Jazz

Guitar

  • Annabelle Bachhuber

Piano

  • Maya Stroh

Bass

  • Brigid Bennett

Drums

  • Bennett Hess

Voice

  • Sofia Araya Bain
  • Tigran Avakyan
  • Alexandra Doran
  • Lucinda Guthrie
  • Lucia Jimenez
  • Tessa Korver
  • Anna Lendrum Fort
  • Serafina Miller
  • Sahil Novetzke
  • Sylvia Zerba

*What does “if available” mean? These students are enrolled in Vocal Jazz as a for-credit class. If they want to participate in the jazz band they are assigned to, they will need to commit to that group and attend all rehearsals, excepting the occasional conflict, as with all students.

Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year!

Last spring our directors listened to nearly 100 student recordings of “There Is No Greater Love.” Students improvised over the chord changes and swung. The audition process resulted in four instrumental ensembles and one vocal jazz group. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Jean-Marie Kent and Scott Brown teach our day time classes, and Dr. Michael Van Bebber and Mark Taylor instruct our after school bands.

The global pandemic will not stop the music. Classes are virtual, and there’s a lot of learning to be done. Jazz Band II is starting with Cannonball Adderley’s “Stars Fell on Alabama,” working on inflections and vibrato.

We are working hard to engage our students in meaningful ways, and we hope you will stay connected.

We look forward to a better tomorrow, and can’t wait to see you.

Roosevelt Jazz Auditions

Audition information for the 2020-2021 Roosevelt Jazz Program is posted under the “Events” tab. If you plan to audition for Roosevelt Jazz, your online registration and video submission are due no later than 5 pm on May 29th! Thank you.