2025 JAS Academy Dates:
June 16th, 2025 – June 30th, 2025 – Big Band Session
July 28th, 2025 – August 11th, 2025 – Afro-Caribbean Big Band Session
The highly-acclaimed JAS Academy Big Band Sessions, led by JAS Academy Artistic Director Christian McBride will now overlap the JAS June Experience, allowing attendees the opportunity to perform during the annual Aspen event and to have exposure to the many artists who will perform over the weekend.
The second sessions will be led by Guggenheim Fellowship Recipient, Etienne Charles, with a focus on “non-swing” styles of music – including Latin, music of South and Central America, Africa, and the Caribbean.
McBride and Charles will work in tandem with Frost Dean Shelly Berg, JAS President & CEO Jim Horowitz, and Program Director Chuck Bergeron, who will work on both sessions. Attendees will participate in both combo and big band settings during their residency.
The goal of the JAS Academy is to identify and assist the most talented artists embracing jazz fundamentally while exploring myriad related & unrelated forms of music at the highest level of quality. While at the Academy, in addition to their studies and rehearsals, students will also be showcased at multiple public performances.
The Academy is full-scholarship, with all travel, lodging, tuition and meals provided. The JAS Academy is supported annually by a multi-year gift from Sasha & Ed Bass.
Big Band Session
June 16th – 30th, 2025
Anthony Casolari
Anthony is a Tamarac, Florida native who moved to Denton, Texas to start school at UNT in the fall of 2019. He graduated with a BM in jazz studies from UNT in Spring 2023, and his master’s degree in jazz studies in Spring 2025. During his master’s he worked as a Teaching Fellow where he taught applied jazz bass lessons, coached small jazz groups, assisted in teaching jazz history, and assisted with teaching jazz bass performance fundamentals. He is the former Bassist in the 7 time Grammy nominated One O’clock Lab band. He recorded electric bass and double bass on “Lab 2024”. As a member of the One O’clock and Two O’clock lab bands and through the UNT jazz lecture series program, Anthony had the honor of performing with the likes of: Helen Sung, Steve Davis, Billy Childs, Nicole Zuraitis, Leon Anderson, Delfeayo Marsalis, Zach Brock, Camille Thurman, Miki Yamanaka, Darmon Meader, and more.
He studied with Lynn Seaton for most of his undergraduate degree and all of his Master’s. He also studied classical bass performance with Gudrun Raschen during all 4 years of his undergraduate degree. In addition to being the bassist in several of the lab bands throughout both of his degrees at UNT, he also played section bass in the university concert orchestra and bass in the Latin Jazz Lab, and was the bassist in several of the jazz small groups. Casolari currently works as a freelance bassist in the DFW area, teaches private lessons, and coleads a wide variety of different musical projects. Before attending UNT, Anthony freelanced throughout the state of Florida, taught private lessons, and took lessons from bassist Rodney Jordan.
Vito Haydar Çakaroğlu
Vito Haydar Çakaroğlu is a trombonist, composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist based in New York City. A native of Brooklyn and later Staten Island, Vito was immersed from an early age in a rich tapestry of musical traditions and cultural influences. He initially pursued classical tuba, which laid the foundation for his deep musical engagement and versatility.
During his formative years, Vito participated in a wide array of ensembles, most notably the Fat Afro Latin Jazz Alliance in Manhattan, under the direction of the renowned Arturo O’Farrill. Through this ensemble, he had the opportunity to perform at various prominent NYC venues alongside celebrated artists such as Jim Neely, Earl McIntyre, and O’Farrill himself. Vito was also a two-time New York All-State selection on tuba at the NYSSMA Conference, an achievement that fueled his passion for mastering multiple instruments and musical genres.
Vito pursued his undergraduate studies in Classical Tuba Performance at Montclair State University, where he later expanded his focus to include Jazz Trombone under the guidance of Mike Boschen. At Montclair, he performed on trombone, bass trombone, and tuba, and toured internationally with the MSU Balkan Ensemble and Wind Symphony. He also performed with distinguished artists including David Bixler, Marcus Printup, and New York Voices, through the MSU Jazz Ensemble led by Jeffery Kunkel and Oscar Perez.
In 2024, Vito began his graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music, where he currently studies with acclaimed trombonist and composer Ryan Keberle. In addition to his academic pursuits, Vito is an active performer in a variety of musical settings, including big bands, small jazz ensembles, salsa groups, and funk bands. He is also a dedicated educator, teaching at Jazz House Kids, the College of Staten Island, and through his own private studio.
Vito continues to compose and perform throughout the city, driven by a passion for musical expression, collaboration, and the transformative power of music.
Hannah Goodwin
Hannah Goodwin is a versatile vocalist, pianist, songwriter, arranger, and educator whose artistry blends tradition with innovation. Rooted in jazz and R&B, her dynamic performances create immersive musical experiences that captivate audiences.
A sought-after live and studio artist, Hannah has worked with acclaimed musicians such as Säje, Laila Biali, Dawn Clement, and Nicole Zuraitis. Her journey began in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, leading her to the School for Music Vocations, where she studied under Grammy-nominated Dr. Jeremy Fox. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Voice at the University of North Texas, studying with the esteemed Rosana Eckert and Jennifer Barnes.
As a key member of UNT’s jazz program, Hannah has performed with the award-winning UNT Jazz Singers and serves as the lead vocalist for the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. Her original compositions and arrangements have been featured by top-tier ensembles, and her dedication has earned her multiple DownBeat awards, including Vocal Jazz Soloist in the Undergraduate Division.
Izzi Guzman
Izzi Guzman is a Miami-based trombonist, composer, and educator passionate about telling stories through music and inspiring the next generation of musicians. A versatile performer, she has collaborated with jazz icons like John Daversa, Jazzmeia Horn, and Brian Lynch and performed at the 2025 South Beach Jazz Festival. Her compositions and arrangements weave together personal stories and a love for diverse genres, creating a distinctive, multi-dimensional sound. She is currently pursuing her M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Miami and performs with the Frost Jazz Orchestra. Outside of performing, Izzi is a photographer, social media manager, and an Outreach Teaching Assistant with the Donna E. Shalala MusicReach Program.
Ben Hall
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Ben Hall is a guitarist and composer who now performs regularly across the Northern Colorado area. In addition to playing and recording many styles of music with a wide range of groups, he is also currently pursuing a doctorate degree in jazz guitar at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. On and off the bandstand, Ben’s approach to music focuses on uplifting his fellow musicians and helping to build a stronger community.
Gaston Kaisin
Gaston Kaisin is a multi-faceted jazz trumpeter with an innovative approach. His versatility has enabled him to excel in various musical contexts, from intimate jazz club performances to large-scale festivals and recording sessions. With a fluid and unique improvisational style, Gaston continually explores new possibilities in jazz, captivating audiences with his dynamic performances.
Gaston’s accomplishments include being named a semi-finalist in both the National Trumpet Competition and the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition. He has performed at the Panama Jazz Festival and prominent New York City jazz clubs and has been a part of numerous professional recording sessions. As a band leader and composer, he frequently performs with his own groups, often featuring his original compositions.
As an educator, Gaston is a faculty member of the New York Jazz Academy, where he regularly teaches masterclasses and private lessons. His commitment to education extends beyond the classroom to performances and workshops at the local, national, and international levels. Most recently, he gave a masterclass on blues improvisation at the Panama Jazz Festival. Gaston aims to make jazz accessible to all, and he is passionate about helping young students develop their improvisational skills.
Gaston is a master’s student at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, supported by the Jamey and Sara Aebersold Jazz Fellowship. Upon completing his degree, Gaston plans to launch an online course to help young students improvise, reflecting his belief that jazz is a form of freedom and joy that should be accessible to everyone.
Sebastian Kuchczyński
Sebastian Kuchczyński – drummer, music producer. Graduate of the Jazz Institute at the Academy of Music in Katowice and the Master program at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music in Boston program. Scholarship recipient from the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Currently he is a Fulbright scholar recipient and DMA Jazz Performance student at Frost School of Music in Miami. Founder of the Gravity Jazz Collective and the New York-based label „Pomade Records”. Producer of the concert series „Jazzowa Brodnica”. As a session musician, he has recorded over 50 albums in various genres (jazz, soul, hip-hop, contemporary, pop) for labels like Igloo Records, Challenge Records, Hevhetia, and SJRecords. His debut solo album „Yavia” was released in 2024 which was considered for Grammy Award nomination as “The Best Alternative Jazz Album”. He has collaborated with artists such as Victor Mendoza, George Garzone, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Wojciech Karolak, Michael Patches Stewart, Artur Dutkiewicz, Mino Cinelu, Benjamin Drazen, Lora Szafran. In 2017, he received a full scholarship for the prestigious master’s program at Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston, awarded by Grammy-winning artistic director Danilo Perez. Award winner at jazz competitions: Most Talented at Tarnów Jazz Contest 2008, second prize at Jazz Hoeilaard in Belgium 2010, first prize at XXXIV Getxo Jazz in Spain, first prize at Krokus Jazz Festival in 2011 and 2012.
Liam Laird
Saxophonist and composer Liam Laird was born and raised in Carbondale, Colorado. Growing up in the Roaring Fork Valley, he was mentored by local musician Mark Johnson and supported by Jazz Aspen Snowmass’ in-school educational efforts. Laird went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to New York City and completing a master’s in jazz studies at NYU. Currently living in New York City, Laird continues working to share his voice molded by the mountains of Colorado with New York City and beyond.
Natalie Lewis
Natalie Lewis is a baritone saxophonist, arranger, composer, and educator from Plymouth, MI. She received her undergraduate degree in music performance in 2023 from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Professor Gary Bartz. Throughout her musical education and career, she has performed at venues internationally and performed alongside a number of legendary musicians, including Gary Bartz, Gerald Cannon, Walter Blanding, Randy Napoleon, and Rodney Whitaker. Natalie recently completed her Master’s of Music degree under Professor Walter Blanding at Michigan State University, during which time she has toured the state of Michigan and the country of Japan as a member of the acclaimed MSU Jazz Orchestra I. She currently lives in East Lansing, MI, with plans to put down new roots in Brooklyn, NY in the coming fall.
Charlee Loyst
Charlee Loyst is a 21-year-old pianist from St. Pete Beach, FL. He has performed around the country, playing with jazz artists including Sean Jones, Jason Moran, and Jaleel Shaw. He graduated from Berklee in 2024, where he studied at the Global Jazz Institute, and is now pursuing his M.M. at the Frost School of Music.
Lois Majors
Lois Majors is a 19-year-old bassist from Charlotte, North Carolina. She began studying jazz double bass at age 13 through ensemble workshops at JazzArts Charlotte, a nonprofit dedicated to jazz education. Through JazzArts Charlotte, Lois performed with artists like Wycliffe Gordon, The Jazz Preservation Hall All-Stars, Joshua Redman, and Ashlin Parker.
Lois graduated from high school as a homeschooler with an Associate in Arts from the University of South Carolina – Lancaster. She is currently a freshman at Berklee College of Music, pursuing a major in Performance with minors in Music Education and Music Business. She studies with a range of notable instructors, including John Lockwood, Linda May Han Oh, Mike Pope, John Patitucci, Jason Palmer, Neal Smith, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, and Kris Davis.
Zakk Machemer
Zakk Machemer is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer based in Jacksonville. Growing up in Plaistow, New Hampshire, he took an interest in jazz from an early age with influences spanning from Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane to contemporary musicians like Eric Marienthal and Kazui Katsuta of the Mario Kart Band. He recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where he was selected as a finalist for the Carinthian International Jazz Award (CIJA) Saxophone Competition during his junior year. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Florida, where he was recently selected as the winner of the 2025 International Saxophone Symposium Jazz Competition.
Aidan McCarthy
Aidan McCarthy is a bassist and composer hailing from Oakland, California. An impassioned musician of eclectic interests, Aidan plays a wide range of musical styles on the acoustic and electric bass. Growing up amidst the vibrant musical landscape of the Bay Area, Aidan cut his teeth on the local scene, ultimately gaining admittance to nationally acclaimed jazz programs such as Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz Band and the Vail Summer Jazz Workshop while in high school. Following his time at Vail, Aidan had the distinct opportunity to spend an incredibly formative year studying with the great John Clayton, bassist, composer, and pedagogue. Aidan has performed professionally with jazz luminaries such as Jazzmeia Horn, Samara Joy, Miguel Zenon, Brian Lynch, Paquito D’Rivera, Ingrid Jensen, Etienne Charles, Sean Jones, Ulysses Owens Jr., Allison Miller, Melissa Aldana, Carl Allen, Kemuel Roig, Faye Carol, etc. Internationally, Aidan has performed in Singapore, Japan, Ecuador, Switzerland, and Italy. Nationally, he has appeared at Birdland, Dizzy’s Club Cola, and The Festival of New Trumpet Music in New York City, along with Boxley’s Jazz Club in Seattle, The Faena Theater in Miami Florida, The Ringling Theatre in Sarasota, etc. Aidan is currently a senior at the University of Miami, finishing up his undergraduate degree in Media Scoring and Production, with a focus on Jazz Bass Performance, with a minor in French Language Studies.
Giovanni Martinez
Giovanni Martinez, 20, is a trumpet player currently based in New York City. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Martinez started playing trumpet at the age of eight after learning that he is the great nephew of legendary trumpeter and composer Miguel Martinez. Giovanni discovered his passion for jazz in the 7th grade after joining his middle school’s jazz band, where he fell in love with the music. Since then, Martinez has performed with groups such as the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Herbie Hancock Institute Peer-To-Peer Quintet, the Jon Faddis Big Band, the Frank Lacy Dectet, and the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band. Martinez was also named an award winner of the prestigious ASCAP 2025 Herb Albert Young Jazz Composers Competition. Martinez currently leads his own small groups in New York City, as well as leading and managing the Giovanni Martinez Big Band. Martinez currently attends at the Manhattan School of Music, where he continues his studies as a jazz trumpeter under the tutelage of trumpet legends Jon Faddis, Ingrid Jensen and Scott Wendholt.
Garnet Müller
Garnet Müller is a trombonist and composer from Cape Town, South Africa. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance at the Eastman School of Music. Before beginning his graduate studies, Garnet toured internationally across Asia and the Middle East as a member of the orchestra for Matilda the Musical.
He has performed and recorded with several iconic South African artists, including Khaya Mahlangu, Judith Sephuma, Hilton Schilder, and Muneeb Hermans. Outside of music, Garnet enjoys amateur film photography.
Isaiah Nygard
Isaiah Nygard is a jazz pianist from Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Currently in his fourth year at the University of North Texas as a double major in jazz studies and mechanical engineering, Isaiah has worked as a freelance jazz musician in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the past three years. He is a current member of the UNT One O’Clock Lab Band. Isaiah has performed alongside artists like Vincent Herring, Miguel Zenon, Allison Miller, Tia Fuller, Matt Wilson, Ed Soph, Jose Aponte, Lynn Seaton, Scott Tixier, Quincy Davis, Nick Finzer, Bradford Leali, Philip Dizack, Alyssa Allgood, Shelley Carrol, Quamon Fowler, and Carlos Averhoff, Jr. Isaiah has performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival as part of the collegiate combo competition, and is the winner of the U.S. Army Blues collegiate solo competition.
Tess Overmyer
Tess Overmyer is a saxophonist and composer based in New York City. Originally from Newcastle, Australia, she is currently studying a master of music at the Manhattan School of Music.
Tess has performed extensively throughout Australia as both a bandleader and side-person, appearing at major festivals including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Sydney Women’s Jazz Festival, and Perth International Jazz Festival.
Recent recognition of her work includes being awarded second place in the 2024 Australian National Jazz Awards; being selected as lead alto in the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra from 2021 to 2024; and receiving a commission from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to compose eight new works for her quartet.
Tess is currently working towards the release of her debut album of original compositions, due out on Earshift Music in mid-2025.
Jauron Perry
Jauron Perry, is a rising Trumpeter, Composer, Arranger, and Bandleader from Detroit, MI. Selected as the Next Generation of Talent award recipient, Jauron quickly gained experience performing and working with Detroit jazz masters such as Rodney Whitaker, Dwight Adams, James Carter, Marion Hayden, Wendell Harrison, Regina Carter, and Ron Brooks to name a few. Jauron has also been seen performing with Marquis Hill, Jazzmeia Horn, Camille Thurman, Michael Dease, Walter Blanding, Rick Roe, and Joe Farnsworth. His other connections extend to Dee Dee Bridgewater, Theo Croker, Wynton Marsalis, Jerome Jennings, Tim Warfield, and Helen Sung. He continues to be featured in prominent events such as the Detroit Jazz Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival, and African World Festival. Additionally, as a member of the Geri Allen Gathering Orchestra, Jauron has performed at the East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival. Being a part of the top jazz orchestra at MSU, he performed with MSU’s Jazz Orchestra 1 (The Bebop Spartans) placing in the top 3 of collegiate ensembles at the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Jauron was the winner of the 2024 Michigan Jazz Festival Rising Horn Competition, and also toured Japan at just 19 years old. He currently leads his band, the Jauron Perry Quintet, that recently just won the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival Combo Competition. The quintet performed their debut set at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival, creating Jauron’s debut album as a bandleader. Jauron always ensures to bring the fire and soul to the stage. His music represents sincerity, purpose, and devotion. Having performed all across Michigan as a bandleader and sideman, Jauron looks to break out of Michigan and bring his band to more audiences. Some of his sideman endeavors go beyond jazz and include collaborating with Motown Hitsville U.S.A., opening for The Commodores and performing with T-Pain through the Urban Art Orchestra. Heavily influenced by legends such as Fats Navarro, Dizzy Gillespie, and Roy Hargrove, Jauron has a pursuit to be a leading voice of the bebop trumpet traditions with a profound stamp of the grit and sound of Detroit. He is an alumni of the acclaimed Detroit School of Arts High School, therefore, a strong foundation and seriousness was established for him early on through receiving effective exposure in and outside of school within the heart of Detroit. Jauron is now a third-year Jazz Studies major at Michigan State University, under the mentorship of Rodney Whitaker, specializing in straight ahead jazz (Bebop/HardBop/Post-Bop) while also expanding his performance skills in funk, soul, classical, and Afro-Cuban music. Jauron dedicates his career strides to his grandfather as he was Jauron’s initial musical influence through his deep appreciation for music and gave Jauron his first trumpet at 8 years old.
Scott Schaffer
Scott Schaffer is a Miami-based trombonist who currently studies at the esteemed Frost School of Music, studying under Professor Dante Luciani.
Scott has performed with artists such as Etienne Charles, Andy Hunter, Marcus Miller, and Rene Marie. He has played in prestigious ensembles such as the Frost Jazz Orchestra and the Studio Jazz Band.
Scott is a recent winner of the 2025 American Trombone Workshop in Arlington, Virginia. He also has performed in an award-winning trombone ensemble at the 2025 American Trombone Workshop.
Sam Schaeffer
Sam Schaeffer is a jazz drummer, percussionist, educator, and composer hailing from Harrisonburg, Virginia located in the Shenandoah Valley. Sam graduated with honors from The State University of New York at Fredonia in December of 2022 with a BA in Jazz Studies. While at SUNY Fredonia, he studied privately with Dr. John Bacon (jazz drums) and Dr. Karolyn Stonefelt (vibraphone/classical percussion). He was a member of the Fredonia Jazz Orchestra and the 2-time Downbeat award-winning Fredonia New Jazz Ensemble, and received the Juliet J. Rosch Scholarship, The Monroe-Poumitt Big Band Award, and the prestigious President’s Out of State Scholar Award.
Sam is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies at the renown Eastman School of Music where he studies jazz drums with Rich Thompson and composition with Dariusz Terefenko. Sam also plays with the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dave Rivello and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Christine Jensen. Under his teaching assistantship, he teaches all secondary jazz drum set lessons to majors and non-majors at Eastman and the University of Rochester and is on the faculty as a jazz drums instructor at the Eastman Community Music School.
Sam is active as a drummer and percussionist on both the New York and Virginia jazz scenes. An accomplished and varied performer, Sam has played and worked with such diverse musicians as John D’Earth, Brad Leali, Derrick Gardner, Sal Valentinetti, Delefayo Marsalis, Stephanie Nakasian, Sherrie Maricle, Mike Rud, Kim Nazarian, Mike Gibbs, and many more. Sam also leads and composes for his own groups who have performed at the Fredonia Jazz Festival, Rochester International Jazz festival, and other numerous venues in both Virginia and New York.
Bell Thompson
Bell Thompson is a trumpet player and composer originally from Seattle, WA, currently based in New York City. Bell’s playing celebrates the jazz tradition of swing and hard bop, while showcasing her vibrant tone and exciting sense of melody.
Bell has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Bruce Barth, Jaleel Shaw, and Steve Tressler, and has also performed with the 8-Bit Big Band, and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. She has performed at venues including Chris’ Jazz Café, Seattle Jazz Fellowship, Close Up NYC, and festivals including Panama Jazz Festival, Washington (DC) Women in Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Jazz a Vienne, among others.
Bell pursued her undergraduate studies in Jazz Studies Performance at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she studied with Terell Stafford and Joe Magnarelli. She then went on to study at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Master’s Program, under the guidance of GRAMMY award-winning pianist Danilo Perez.
Bell’s independent qualitative research project, “Gender and Jazz: The Experience of Women in Jazz Education,” was funded through the Temple University Diamond Research Scholars Program in 2020. She received the 2021 Temple University Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award for Diversity and Social Justice, and was featured at the 2022 Jazz Education Network Conference.
Bell is a 2025 recipient of the Temple University 30 Under 30 Award as an Arts and Culture Visionary.
Roman Wells
Roman Wells II is a Jazz musician and performance major with a deep passion for music. He is currently pursuing his studies at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, pushing his artistic boundaries every day. Roman is excited to grow alongside world-class musicians and mentors this summer in Aspen.
Eli Wyatt
Eli Wyatt is a tenor saxophonist from Fairbanks, Alaska, who began playing jazz at the age of 12, after studying violin through the Suzuki Method since the age of 6. He received his bachelor’s degree in Jazz and Studio Performance at the University of Memphis, studying with Dr. Michael Shults and Dr. Jack Cooper. He played in the university’s flagship jazz ensemble, the Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra throughout college career. In 2022, Eli was selected as a semifinalist in the North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Soloist competition. Since August of 2024, he has held the second tenor saxophone chair of the Memphis Jazz Orchestra, performing weekly on Memphis’ historic Beale Street, while also performing freelance throughout the city. He will begin his master’s degree in the fall of 2025 at The University of Texas at Austin, studying with Professor Diego Rivera.
Afro Caribbean Session
July 28th – August 11th, 2025
Ethan Assad
Ethan Assad is a bassist from Memphis, Tennessee, who is currently attending Middle Tennessee State University as a Jazz Studies major. He has been performing in Memphis and Nashville for over 6 years. He plays a variety of genres including jazz, classical, bluegrass, rock and others. Ethan teaches many students privately on acoustic bass, electric bass, guitar, and piano.
Jolie Demesmin
Jolie Demesmin, born on June 17, 2007, is a jazz vocalist and composer from St. Cloud, Florida. A senior at Osceola County School for the Arts, she is set to continue her musical journey at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she will study jazz voice.
Jolie’s passion for music began in early childhood, but her love for jazz was sparked in the eighth grade after hearing Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition of “Early Autumn.” Since then, she has quickly risen as a notable young voice in jazz. Her talents have earned her recognition in DownBeat Magazine, the title of YoungArts Winner with Distinction, and was in the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, led by pianist Gerald Clayton, and accepted into the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center, under the direction of Jason Moran.
Ben Dunham
Composer, Vibraphonist, and Improviser Ben Dunham (b. 2002) strives to create music that reflects both his environment and personal experiences, spanning a wide range of genres and mediums. By consistently creating and learning, Ben seeks to evolve his style and aesthetic through ongoing reflection and inspiration from contemporary musical trends.
Recent works include “The Sixth Stream”, a work commissioned by the University of Miami All-Stamps Ensemble which reinterprets and transforms Third-Stream Music into the 21st Century. Ben also collaborated with pianist Renato Diz on “Glass”, a new work for solo piano that integrates inside and prepared piano techniques, in addition to traditional playing. Other works have been performed by groups such as The Rhythm Method, The Experiment, Peridot Duo, and the USF Percussion Ensemble.
As a jazz vibraphonist, Ben has performed at prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Maurice Gusman Hall, Scope Art Gallery (Art Basel-Miami), the Clearwater Jazz Festival, Lucas Theater, the Suncoast Jazz Festival, as well as WDNA and WUSF Radio Stations. He has worked with renowned artists such as Etienne Charles, John Daversa, Camille Thurman, and Darrell Green, and has performed in a wide range of jazz styles including straight-ahead, contemporary, fusion, and avant-garde. In September of 2023, he released his debut album, Homesick, including seven original compositions and two arrangements of standards. Ben also leads the Ben Dunham Trio and has recorded with numerous artists in Miami.
Guilhem Fourty
Guilhem Fourty is a drummer, producer, and composer originally from Toulouse, France. He recently received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Terri Lyne Carrington, Neal Smith, and Ralph Peterson Jr. Guilhem has played with jazz greats such as Braxton Cook, Miguel Zenón, Danilo Perez, Jonathan Suazo, among others, and performs regularly in New York’s jazz clubs and around the world.
Javin Ganewattage
Javin Ganewattage is a New York-based trombonist born and raised in Staten Island, New York. Javin’s early life was artistic in different ways, mostly throughout elementary school. He played clarinet, was in a small dance group, and even joined a church choir! Though he didn’t get back into the arts and music until his sophomore year of high school. Javin picked up the trombone in his sophomore year of high school and has continued onward to pursue his passion of playing professionally.
Javin started getting into Jazz his junior year, and was inspired by close friends who also played, his family, and listening to other great musicians. He gets inspiration from Slide Hampton, JJ Johnson, Scott Whitfield, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and many more! Javin is currently studying at Montclair State University with the great Alan Ferber. He also gets inspiration from other faculty such as Bruce Williams, Jason Marshall, Bill Moring, Oscar Perez, Mike Lee, and others.
Not only does he play jazz but often takes part in other forms of music as well. From High School to now, Javin plays Latin and Caribbean style music all the time. He is continuously inspired by Latin and Caribbean style music, ultimately shaping his playing over time. He even gets the chance to sit in with Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra some Sundays at Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. Javin has also played classically before, getting the opportunity to play with the New York Philharmonic at a Gala Performance.
On top of this, he loves to meet new people and make new friends who he hopes to inspire and be inspired by!
Reagan Dean-Edward Garza
Reagan Garza is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, writer, arranger, and educator based out of the Dallas-Fort Worth. With strong musical ties to the genres of Funk, RnB, country, and jazz, he is know for his passionate and eccentric performance style that focuses on a fun experience for his audiences.
Reagan has worked with highly acclaimed artists such as Nicole Zuraitis, Laila Biali, Darmon Meader, Jacob Collier, Micheal Mayo, Voces8, King’s Return, and Dawn Clement. Reagan is a native Texan and earned his undergraduate degree in Jazz Saxophone at The University of North Texas. He is also currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Jazz Voice at UNT, where he is a private student of world-renowned vocal educators Rosana Eckert and Jennifer Barnes.
In his 7 year tenure at North Texas, Reagan has performed in the UNT Latin Jazz Lab Band, the UNT Jazz Singers, the UNT Two O’Clock Lab Band, and even directed the UNT Contemporary Music Ensemble to winning a Downbeat Award.
Vick Luna
From the shadows of Chicago, Vick Luna exudes a raw swagger through his horn, reflective of northwest Indiana’s post-industrial soul. A disciple of movements like Salsa Dura (hard salsa), Hard Bop, Soul, and Funk, Vick fuses his Chicano heritage and deep influence of Black American music to create the foundation for his musical expression.
Currently, Vick is studying at the Jacobs School of Music, while performing regularly in Indianapolis and throughout the Midwest. He has studied with Grammy-nominated trombonist and arranger Wayne Wallace, as well as distinguished trombonist and arranger Freddie Mendoza. Vick has performed at venues such as The Jazz Kitchen, The Chatterbox, The Palladium, The Blockhouse, Navy Pier, and has performed in Carmel Jazz, Indy Jazz, and Bitter Jester Festivals.
Colin Manocchio
Colin Manocchio is a rising Jazz Trombonist and educator from Franklin, Massachusetts. He has had the privilege of learning from some of the most noteworthy artists in jazz today, such as Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Marcus Printup, Ayn Inserto, and Avery Sharpe, among many others.
Colin is a sophomore at the University of North Texas College of Music, studying under Professor Steve Menard and Professor Nick Finzer. During his time at UNT, he has performed with the UNT Latin Jazz Lab, the 2 O’Clock Lab Band, and the university’s premier jazz trombone ensemble, the U-Tubes. He has also had the opportunity to play alongside esteemed guest artists, such as Steve Davis, Steve Turre, Andy Martin, and Bryan Carter.
As a performer and educator in the Greater Boston Area, Colin performs with many local theater companies, big bands, and orchestras, such as the Beantown Swing Orchestra, the Cameron Shave Jazz Orchestra, and the New England Film Orchestra. As an educator, he has recently begun assisting/teaching middle and high school students alongside prominent educators and performers such as Alexa Tarantino, Steven Feifke, Emiliano Lasansky, Mike Conrad, Levi Saelua, and Eric Metzger.
Jonathan Orellana-Sanchez
Jonathan Orellana-Sanchez is a jazz trumpet player currently based in the Dallas/Forth Worth metroplex. Originally from Chantilly, Virginia, Jonathan began his musical journey at the age of five, playing multiple instruments in his home church. In high school, Jonathan earned national recognition as the winner of the U.S. Army Blues Solo Competition (High School Division), which led him to perform as a featured soloist with the U.S. Army Blues. He is currently studying at the University of North Texas, where he has had the privilege of studying under renowned trumpeter Philip Dizack.
Jonathan is a member of the Grammy-nominated UNT One O’Clock Lab Band, with whom he has toured and recorded with. He has performed with celebrated artists such as Vincent Herring, Allison Miller, Laila Biali, Billy Childs, Matt Wilson, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He has also performed with the five-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Christian group, Miel San Marcos.
Mildred Mariel Perez
Mildred Mariel Pérez is a jazz bassist originally from Mexico City, currently based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. She moved to Texas to pursue a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Escuela Superior de Música, part of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, where she had the opportunity to perform with a variety of artists, including Calacas Jazz Band, Ingrid and Jenny Beaujean, and Paulina Parga. Her professional experience also includes collaborations with Argentine writer Jorge Bucay and composer Horacio Palencia, with whom she participated in the Premios Furia Musical. Since relocating to DFW, she has been actively involved in the local music scene, including theatre productions such as In the Heights, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Andre Perlman
Andre Perlman is a trombonist, composer and arranger from Miami, Florida. Perlman has played on such stages as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Dizzy’s Club, and the Monterey Jazz Festival and played with bands such as NYO Jazz, the Future of Jazz Orchestra, and the 2020 YoungArts Finalist Combo. Most recently, Andre served as a bandleader and speaker in the Lincoln center program “Legacies of San Juan Hill”. Andre is a rising 3rd year at the Juilliard School pursuing a degree in Jazz Trombone Performance.
Mason Rheinhardt
For Mason Rheinhardt, nothing is more important than community. Hailing from Raleigh, NC, Mason’s musical journey kick-started in High School, where he helped lead the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble community band to the finals of the renowned Essentially Ellington Competition and played lead alto for the “Outstanding” award-winning saxophone section. Mason then moved to East Lansing to study – and ultimately perform with – professor Walter Blanding. As a student at MSU, Mason works to diversify his personal community. He joined MSU’s Salsa Verde, an extracurricular ensemble that gigs around Michigan playing Afro-Cuban music. Mason also formed his own ensemble, The Collective Moment, which strives to create memorable connections with its audiences while delivering a comprehensive sound featuring works from all members of the group. In addition to his professor, Mason has shared the stage with Pianist Rick Roe, Multi-Instrumentalist Michael Dease, and percussionist Dr. Jon Weber. In his spare time, Mason enjoys playing basketball with an Intramural team of fellow Jazz Studies majors and works as a Stagehand for the MSU College of Music. Mason looks forward to expanding his community to his peers, mentors, and audiences at Jazz Aspen Snowmass.
Lucas Rafael Rivero
Lucas Rafael Rivero is an incoming freshman at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. A graduate of the New World School of the Arts, Lucas has demonstrated exceptional musical talent, performing as a soloist, principal trumpet, and lead trumpet in various ensembles.
In 2023, Lucas attended the Brubeck Jazz Summit, was recognized as a soloist at Essentially Ellington, performed at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival as part of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and was selected as the only trumpet player nationwide for the Herbie Hancock Institute’s National Peer-to-Peer Jazz Sextet. He had the honor of performing at the Institute’s annual all-star gala in New York, sharing the stage with jazz legends such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Terri Lyne Carrington, Herbie Hancock, and Joe Lovano, among others.
In May 2024, Lucas toured with guest artist Don Braden and the Peer-to-Peer Sextet. He has also been recognized as a Young Arts winner in 2023 and 2024 and was a member of the 2024 NYO-Jazz, under the direction of Sean Jones, performing in South Africa and at Carnegie Hall. In the summer of 2024, Lucas participated in the prestigious Vail Jazz Workshop, further solidifying his place among the country’s top young jazz musicians.
In addition to his accomplishments on the national and international stage, Lucas can be found performing locally in Miami as a sought-after sideman or leader, showcasing his versatility and presence in the culturally diverse music scene of his hometown.
David Antonio Rosado Ortiz
David Antonio Rosado Ortiz was born on December 4th, 2001 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He is one of the greatest young percussionists/musicians of this generation and has worked with many artists in his beginning career.
David Antonio has been performing on stage since he was 8 years old, and his professional debut was when he was 12 years old as an invited guest artist to perform with the Sonora Ponceña 60th anniversary concert in the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in 2013. He began studying music formally when he entered the Escuela Libre de Música de San Juan Ernesto Ramos Antonini, and since then, he’s had many more professional experiences. When he turned 14 years old, he began working with the Sonora Sanjuanera and recorded for the first time on an album called “Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor García & la Sonora Sanjuanera En Buena Companía.” Later, in that same year, he was invited by Gilberto Santa Rosa to be the opening act for the opening of the hospital of Carolina in 2015. David Antonio has performed with so many important artists that the list continues on and on.
When David Antonio turned 15, he performed Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico and later that same year with El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico as a guest artist on their 55th anniversary concert, also at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in 2016.
While performing, David Antonio also attended the Berklee on the Road summer program every year, winning scholarships like: the Berklee percussion weekend festival (2015), Berklee 5-week summer program (2016), Berklee 5 summer program (2017), Berklee Newport Jazz Festival Workshop (2018), and the Berklee full Tuition Scholarship (2019).
David Antonio is currently a Berklee graduate as well as a professional performer, multi-percussionist and arranger, and recently has been accepted to the Berklee Global Jazz institute to do the master’s program.
While in high school, he traveled with the ELM Symphony Orchestra to play at the Carnegie Hall in 2019. He performed in Vienna, Austria with the ELM Choir at the Advent Festival in 2019, and with the ELM big band to compete at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival (2017), where he won 1st place and the Judges’ Choice Award.
Aidan Sears
Aidan Sears is a baritone saxophonist and composer from Redondo Beach, California. Aidan is in his final semester of his undergraduate studies at the University of North Texas, where he studies with Professor Brad Leali and performs in the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. Aidan has shared the stage with many well-known musicians including Brad Leali, Quincy Davis, Rufus Reid, Billy Childs, Steve Davis, Vincent Herring, Miguel Zenon, Paoli Mejias, Ed Soph, Matt Wilson, Dawn Clement, Jeff Lederer, Phillip Dizack, Ben Allison, Miki Hayama, Rob Parton, Davy Mooney, Ashlin Parker, Quamon Fowler, Rosana Eckert, Chris Milyo, and Frederick Sanders. Aidan has performed as a semifinalist in the 2024 NASA Collegiate Jazz Saxophone competition and at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival collegiate competition as a finalist. Upon graduation, Aidan plans to continue to perform, write, and teach in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Antonio Soltero
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Antonio Soltero is a guitarist, composer, and arranger. Having taken violin lessons from a young age, at around age 10 Antonio switched to learning the guitar which quickly became his passion. Throughout his High School years he studied with Austin guitarist Glenn Rexach and is currently studying with Paul Krueger, Avery Scanlon, Keith Brown, Idit Shner, and Steve Owen at the University of Oregon.
Antonio has studied and performed a wide variety of styles ranging from jazz, indie rock, funk, bluegrass, salsa, and Mexican folkloric music. In his time at the University of Oregon, Antonio has performed alongside artists such as Dezron Douglas, Rafael Abdalla, Remy Le Boeuf and Braxton Cook.
Antonio is currently pursuing a Graduate Degree in Jazz Studies where he is also working as a Graduate Employee. He currently teaches private lessons as well as perform throughout the Eugene area.
Tori Trinity
Tori Trinity, 21, is a versatile flutist and bandleader from Durham, North Carolina, currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating high school in 2022 with a diploma in flute performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Tori went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Jazz music performance at UNC Greensboro. Immersed in the North Carolina scene, Tori spent many of her formative years cutting her teeth locally, performing for private events and notably at the International John Coltrane Jazz and Blues Festival in 2023.
Tori’s ambition to be a versatile flutist and performer has led to her branched study and specialization in multiple genres of music, including classical, straight-ahead jazz, Latin jazz, and R&B styles.
From spring through fall of 2024, she was a permanent member of UNC-Greensboro’s Latin Jazz Ensemble. It was in this ensemble, directed by percussionist Brevan Hampden, that she specialized in the improvisational music of Afro-Cuban Jazz, Afro-Rican Jazz, and other forms of Afro-Caribbean and South American Music.
Now primarily based in Baltimore, Maryland, Tori is in her 3rd year of undergrad at Morgan State University under the tutelage of jazz flutist Delandria Mills and saxophonist Brent Birckhead. Driven by a curiosity and a fearless approach to push boundaries for the flute in improvisational music, Tori looks next to expand on her skills as a composer in the jazz field.
Henry Vo
Henry Vo is a saxophonist and flutist from Dallas, Texas. He plays alto and soprano saxophones and flute. Henry is currently studying Music Engineering at the University of Miami.
Nate Wilson
Nate Wilson is a bassist and composer from Chicago, Illinois. He began his musical journey at a young age studying guitar, piano and drums at the Old Town School Folk Music. By the age of ten he had won a seat as a classical percussionist at the Alice J. Pfaelzer
Tuition Free Conservatory. In middle school, Nate expanded from classical percussion to bass, playing and studying jazz, rock and other related genres – most notably, progressive metal. During high school, Nate was invited to tour as a School of Rock AllStar three years in a row, and had the distinction as the first ever “Double AllStar” touring both as a Performer and a Songwriter in 2021. Nathan was a two-time Ravinia Jazz Scholar, which allowed him the opportunity of studying with amazing Chicago jazz players and mentors Dennis Carroll, Pat Mallinger, Pharez Whitted, Audrey Morrison, Richard Johnson, Bobby Broom, Ernie Adams, and Eric Hines, before he was given the great honor of being invited to study with Dr. Charles Bergeron at the Frost School of Music. Nate is the composer, bassist, and vocalist for the Chicago-based progressive metal project Metacognate, who released the album In The Wake of Insomnia in August of 2023. Nate is also in the Miami-based indie band Velvet2, with several singles released and much more in the works. Nate regularly records and plays with various singers and songwriters in both Chicago and Miami, while also teaching bass and guitar at School of Rock Andersonville in Chicago. Nate just wrapped up his sophomore year at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he is a Studio Music and Jazz Performance major with a minor in Media Scoring and Production. Nate is thrilled to have the opportunity to further learn from and work with his professor, Etienne Charles.
Bongmin Yoon
Bongmin Yoon is a pianist, singer, composer, arranger, and artist whose music is shaped by a rich tapestry of cultural experiences. A native of Korea, she began playing piano at the age of five in a musical family. After moving to Germany, she studied at the University of Music and Theatre Hannover, during which she spent a year on exchange at the Zurich University of the Arts, studying under Professor Marine Racine and conducting at the Singen Fest Zurich. Back in Germany, she performed with renowned European jazz musicians and took part in the contemporary classical music festival Podium in Esslingen. Drawing from her international background, Bongmin has embraced a wide range of genres, collaborating with Latin American musicians in both Europe and Texas. She actively composes and performs in two ongoing projects: the odd-meter jazz quintet “Holzack” and her vocal-led ensemble “Yoonb Trio”. Bongmin is currently pursuing her master’s degree in jazz Piano at the University of North Texas under the guidance of Dave Meder.