2012 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra Bios

Alto saxophonist Connor Anderson, 18, from Concord, California, is a 2012 graduate of FAME Public Charter School. Playing alto and baritone sax in a variety of bands throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, he has performed lead alto with the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra and the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo. He is a three-year member of the Diablo Wind Symphony and the intergenerational Rossmoor Big Band. He played with the Diablo Valley College Jazz Ensemble for two years, and in 2011, worked with Marcos Silva in the JazzSchool Brazilian Ensemble. Connor is a three-year member of the Contra Costa County Honor Jazz Band, a 2011 California All-State Honor Jazz Band member, and has performed with a number of groups at the Lafayette Jazz Festival. Connor is a returning Next Generation Jazz Orchestra member, and has studied with Mary Fettig for the past five years; has taken lessons with Duane Carroll, Douglas Yates, and Eric Marienthal; and has attended the Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshops. Connor will be a student at Stanford University in the fall of 2012.

Trumpeter Max Boiko attends Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Trombonist Matt Bumgardner, 18, is a senior at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington, where he plays lead trombone in their jazz band, and orchestra. A multi-year member of Music for All’s Jazz Band of America in 2010-2012, and a 2010 and 2012 member of the Washington Music Educators Association’s All-State Jazz Band, Matt has appeared in the Bellevue Jazz Festival’s “Rising Stars” program for the last three years, worked with pianist Benny Green during 2011 Centrum Jazz Workshop; and performs regularly at Boxley’s Jazz Club in North Bend. In 2012, Matt was selected as a trombonist for the Grammy Jazz Band and Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Matt has received numerous soloist awards during his high school music career. Matt has performed and received instruction with a variety of talented professional musicians, including Bill Anthony, Jay Thomas, David Ritt, Shelly Berg, Allen Vizzutti, Ingrid Jensen, and Wayne Bergeron.

Trumpeter Ryan DeWeese, 17, is a recent graduate of Esperanza High School in Anaheim, California.  He is a four-year member of the Esperanza’s Entertainment Unit, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band 1, all under the direction of Bradley Davis. In 2012, Ryan was selected as split-lead trumpet for the GRAMMY Camp-Jazz Session Band, the National Association for Music Education national honor jazz band, and Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.  Ryan has been an honor musician with Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association concert and jazz ensembles from 2008-2011, including principal in the wind ensemble and split lead in the Jazz All-Stars in 2011.  Ryan has also been a member of the California All-State Jazz Ensemble the past three years, including serving as lead trumpet in 2011.  Ryan has twice had the opportunity to play alongside trumpet great Wayne Bergeron, and has performed as a guest soloist with the Tom Kubis Big Band.  Ryan has also worked with Bob Mintzer, Justin DiCioccio, Sal Lozano, Ellen Rowe, Fred Sturm, Jay Saunders, and Brad Leali; and has participated in summer programs at Idyllwild Jazz Camp, Stanford Jazz Residency, and the University of North Texas. Ryan’s private instructor is Dr. Chuck Tumlinson, director of jazz studies at California State University, Fullerton.  In the fall, Ryan will be studying jazz trumpet at the Manhattan School of Music. 

Baritone saxophonist Jasper Dutz, 18, is a 2012 graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Beginning on the clarinet at age seven, he took up baritone saxophone at age 11. Strongly influenced by Eric Dolphy, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, and Lee Konitz, he has attended the Port Townsend Centrum Jazz Workshop in Washington; Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Jazz Camp in Florida; and the Vail Jazz Workshop in Colorado. His many awards include the 2007-2008 Hamilton High School Outstanding Soloist Award; the 2008 Bill Green Mentorship Program Award; membership in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s 2010 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra; a 2011 DownBeat Magazine Outstanding Performance Award; First Place in the Jazz Instrumental category at the 2011 Music Center Spotlight Awards; a Judges Choice Award at the 2011 Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival; and an Outstanding Soloist award at Monterey’s 2012 Next Generation Jazz Festival. Jasper has studied or performed with Darryl Tanikawa, John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Gary Foster, Gary Smulyan, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, Herbie Hancock, Robin Eubanks, and Christian McBride. Jasper will attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in the fall of 2012 on a full-tuition scholarship.

Trombonist Coleman Hughes, 16, is a junior at Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey, where he plays lead trombone in their award-winning jazz band, Chameleon; and orchestra. In 2011, Coleman was selected as lead trombonist for the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education All-State Jazz Band. In 2012, at the Charles Mingus High School Competition, Coleman performed with the Jazz House Kids Big Band and the Newark Academy Combo, winning the Specialized Big Band category with JHK, and garnering an Outstanding Soloist award. Coleman additionally won an Outstanding Soloist award at the 2012 Essentially Ellington Competition at Lincoln Center with Chameleon; was selected to the 2012 GRAMMY Jazz Band and Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra; and was awarded a DownBeat Magazine Student Outstanding Soloist award. Coleman has participated in summer programs at Skidmore, Julliard, Kinhaven, and Jazz House Kids; and has studied with Ben Williams, Curtis Fuller, David Gibson, Steve Turre, Andre Hayward, James Burton III, Preston Scott, and Anthony Mazzocchi. Coleman has performed with jazz greats Julius Tolentino, David Gibson, Christian McBride, Grassella Oliphant, Bruce Williams, Freddie Hendrix, Mike Lee, and Chick Corea. Coleman has also performed at the Manhattan School of Music, Jazz Standard, South Orange Performing Arts Center, New Jersey Performing Art Center, WBGO’s Broadcast Studios, Hat City Kitchen, and more.

Guitarist Lake Jiroudek, 18, is from Cannon Beach, Oregon, and is a 2012 graduate of the Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California, where he studied under Marshall Hawkins and Paul Carman. His combo at Idyllwild recently won First Place at the Berklee Jazz Festival and the Reno Jazz Festival. In 2011, Lake was selected to the Reno All-Star Combo and won a Superior Musician Award at the Berklee Jazz Festival. In 2012, Lake was selected for Music For All’s Jazz Band of America and Reno All-Star Combo; won a DownBeat Jazz Soloist Award; won his second Superior Musician Award at the Berklee Jazz Festival; and was given the Oregon Hall of Fame Award and a NFAA YoungArts Honorable Mention. He currently studies under Bruce Forman, and has also studied with Dan Balmer and John Stowell. He will be attending the Juilliard School in New York City on full scholarship in the fall of 2012.

Bassist Daryl Johns, 15, is a sophomore at the Dwight-Englewood School, in Englewood, New Jersey.  He additionally attends the Precollege Division at the Manhattan School of Music where he plays in their award-winning Big Band, Improv, and Double Bass Ensembles. He has attended the Vail and Centrum Jazz Workshops; the Skidmore Jazz Institute; New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Jazz for Teens; Jazz House Kids; and Litchfield Jazz Camps. A semi-finalist in the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Bass Competition, Daryl won Best Soloist and Original Song Awards from DownBeat Magazine in 2010; and won Best Soloist awards at the 2010 and 2011 Charles Mingus High School Competitions. He was additionally selected to the 2011 and 2012 Grammy Jazz Ensembles; and in 2011, he was a member of the Thelonious Monk Institute National Performing Arts High School All-Star Jazz Sextet; Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra; and was named a WBGO “Jazz Star of Tomorrow” at the Champions of Jazz Benefit at Lincoln Center. He has performed with Randy Brecker, Joshua Redman, Donny McCaslin, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Owens, Dave Liebman, Geoff Keezer, Benny Green, Carl Allen, Jay Leonhart, Warren Vaché, Les Paul, Bucky Pizzarelli, Valery Ponomarev, Larry Coryell, John Colianni, Bernie Williams, Michael Wolff, Steve Johns, and Mike Clark. Daryl recently performed a weeklong stint at the Blue Note in New York City with the Larry Coryell Trio in a double bill with the Stanley Clarke Trio; and was recently filmed with Chick Corea for a segment in a documentary celebrating Chick’s 70th birthday. In 2012, Daryl received the Michael Kamen “Mr. Holland’s Opus” Award to purchase a instrument handcrafted by award-winning bass maker, Hannah Mayne; was selected for the second time to the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra; and is currently recording several projects, produced by Don Sickler, at the legendary Van Gelder Studio. He studies classical bass with Linda McKnight.

Pianist Nick Lamb, 18, is a 2012 graduate of Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California, where he performed in its small combo and large ensembles. He additionally was a multi-year member of the JazzSchool Studio Bands and the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra. Nick has performed at many of the world’s major jazz festivals, including Monterey, Montreux, North Sea, and Umbria. Nick is a nine-time DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award winner, including 2010, 2011 and 2012 awards for “Best Large Ensemble” with the JazzSchool Monday Night Studio Band and “Best Performing Arts High School Combo” with the JazzSchool Advanced High School Jazz Workshop; the 2011 and 2012 awards for “Best High School Combo” with the Berkeley High School Combo ‘A’; and the 2012 award for “Best Original Composition.” At Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Festival, Nick won the Combo Division with the Berkeley High Combo ‘A’ in 2012; and with the JazzSchool Monday Night Studio Band, he won the Conglomerate Division 2010 and 2011. Nick has been given 19 Outstanding Musicianship awards at many competitions, including a 2012 Outstanding Soloist award from the Next Generation Jazz Festival. Nick has studied with Susan Muscarella and Peter Horvath, and will attend the University of Miami Frost School of Music in fall of 2012.

Trombonist Joonas Lemetyinen, 17, is a 2012 graduate of West Linn High School in West Linn, Oregon. Born in Turku, Finland, Joonas moved to the United States at a young age. Actively involved with school and conglomerate bands, Joonas performs with Portland’s Metropolitan Youth Symphony Jazz Band 1, which appeared at the 2012 Next Generation Jazz Festival. Joonas performs as lead trombone with West Linn’s jazz ensemble, symphonic band, and symphony orchestra; with a professional salsa band in Portland known as Afincando; and in a combo directed by Derek Sims. Recently studying with John Moak, Joonas has received many honors for music, including two-year selection to the Oregon All-State Jazz Band, and the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He will attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in the fall of 2012.

Drummer Cameron MacIntosh, 16, is a junior at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, where he is a member of their jazz and wind ensembles. Studying drums since the age nine, and by age 11, he was accepted as a student of Joe Morello, Dave Brubeck’s legendary drummer.  Cameron attends the New Jersey Performing Art Center’s Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program, where he has been studying for three years under the direction of Dion Parson. Cameron is also a member of the award-winning Jazz House Kids Big Band under the direction of Julius Tolentino. In 2012, Cameron won an Outstanding Soloist award Charles Mingus High School Competition in New York City; was selected to the 2012 GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble where he performed with Anthony Hamilton and Chick Corea; and was selected to Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He is currently a finalist for the prestigious 2012 Vail Jazz Workshop. He has performed at such venues as Cecil’s, Trumpets, Smalls, the Jazz Standard, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and the Montclair and Somerville Jazz Festivals. Cameron will attend Manhattan School of Music’s Jazz Precollege program in the fall.

Trombonist Blake Manternach, 17, will be a senior at West High School in Iowa City, Iowa, where he plays in the school’s jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, and school combo. He also performs with the University of Iowa's Johnson County Landmark Band under the direction of Ira Rapson. Performing since the 5th grade, Blake was selected as trombonist in the 2011 Iowa All-State Band; and was selected to the 2011 and 2012 Iowa All-State Jazz Band. In 2012, he was accepted to Music for All’s Jazz Band of America and the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony. Blake has studied or performed with Rich Medd, Jonathan Allen, Tom Garling and Michael Dease. In addition, he has played with Paul McKee, Terell Stafford, Jonathan Batiste, John Fedchock, Michael Mossman, and Peter Apfelbaum.

Alto saxophonist David Milazzo, 17, is a 2012 graduate from Bow High School in New Hampshire. By the age of 11, he was performing with the Windham Swing Band. David attended the 2006 and 2007 Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camps, and has participated in New Hampshire All-State Bands on both clarinet and saxophone. In 2009, he received the Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship at the Clark Terry UNH Jazz Festival; the Judges Choice Award at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival; and attended Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program. He returned to Berklee in 2010, when he was selected for the Five-Week Summer Jazz Workshop, and also shared the stage with pianist Frank Wilkins at that year’s Beantown Jazz Festival. In 2011, David won a Young Arts Merit Award; and was selected for the 2011 Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony. He has played with Rickie Cole, Branford and Delfeayo Marsalis; George Garzone, Bobby Tynes, Frank Wilkins, and many more, and has performed at various clubs in New York City, and the greater Boston area. A 2012 finalist for the Brubeck Fellowship, David will attend the Berklee College of Music on the exclusive Presidential Scholarship. He currently studies saxophone, clarinet, and flute with Berklee professor Harry Skoler.

Trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, from Brooklyn, New York, is a recent graduate of the LaGuardia High School for the Arts. As a 2010-2012 Grammy Jazz Band member, Adam performed with Chick Corea, James Moody, and Joe Lovano; and appeared on the live Grammy Awards Telecast with Esperanza Spalding in 2011. He has received many awards, including a 2011 DownBeat Student Music Award for Original Composition, the ASCAP Gershwin Award, and Outstanding Soloist Awards at the Mingus High School and Essentially Ellington competitions in New York City. He was also selected to Monterey’s 2011 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the White House, Teatro Mella in Havana; and the Newport, Mount Fuji, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Adam has shared the stage with Stefon Harris, Lee Konitz, Wynton Marsalis, Arturo O'Farrill, Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, DJ Logic, Benny Golson, Joshua Redman, Benny Green, Donny McCaslin, and Terence Blanchard.  Selected to the 2012 Thelonious Monk Institute All-Star High School Septet, he performed in Philadelphia with Christian McBride and recorded an album at the legendary Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.  Adam also co-leads the O'Farrill Brothers Band with his brother, Zack, releasing their acclaimed first album, Giant Peach, in 2011. The group has performed at the Jazz Gallery, Birdland, and Symphony Space in New York City. He has studied and taken lessons with Jim Seeley, Nathan Warner, Ambrose Akinmusire, Michael Rodriguez, Jason Moran, and Bobby Shew. In the fall of 2012, Adam will attend the Manhattan School of Music on the full-tuition Charles Mingus Scholarship.

Bass trombonist Chris Palowitch, 18, is a 2012 graduate of Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California. He is a multiple-year member of the GRAMMY Jazz Band (2011, 2012), Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (2010-2012); the California Band Directors Association Symphonic Bands and Wind Symphonies (tenor trombone, 2007-2009); the Northern California Band Association All-Northern Honor Band (first trombone, 2008, 2009); and the California Band Directors Association/California Alliance for Jazz All-State Jazz Band (bass trombone, 2010-2012). Chris has also performed with Berkeley’s Jazzschool Monday Night Studio Band, winning first place in the Conglomerate Division at Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Festival in 2010 and 2011; and second place in 2012. He currently plays lead in the band. He is receiving instruction from Tom Hornig, and has also studied with Dann Zinn and Chris Barnes. In the fall of 2012, he will attend the University of Miami Frost School of Music on full scholarship as a Trombone Performance and Music Business major. He was also selected to the university’s prestigious Stamps Brass Quintet.

Flautist and vocalist Elena Pinderhughes, 17, is a senior at Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California.  She began playing flute at age seven, and by age nine, she was playing jazz and Latin music with local bands, and recorded her first CD, Catch 22. At 11, she was featured in The Music in Me, an HBO special on young musicians. Elena has won numerous Best Soloist awards at various jazz festivals, and from DownBeat Magazine. She was a member of the prestigious San Francisco Youth Symphony Orchestra and has performed in numerous venues, including Carnegie Hall, the White House, Yoshi’s Jazz Club, Davies Symphony Hall; and the Caramoor, Moab, Fillmore, San Jose, Yerba Buena Latin Music, Gualala Whale & Jazz; and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Elena has additionally toured Brazil, Cuba, Italy, and Switzerland; and has participated in a number of music programs, including Julliard Jazz Workshops, UC Berkeley's Young Musicians Program, SFJAZZ High School Jazz All Stars, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. In 2012, in addition to touring Japan with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, she will participate in the Brubeck Institute’s Summer Jazz Colony. Elena studies classical flute with Michelle Caimotto and alto saxophone with Bennie Maupin.

Trumpeter Jeric Rocamora, 16, will be a junior at Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California, where he is a member of their ‘AM’ Jazz Band and Honors Concert Band. Jeric began playing the trumpet at age 11 with Roseville’s Community Concert Band, Cooley Middle School Jazz Band, and Sacramento Youth Band. Jeric has participated in state and regional honors concert ensembles, won several outstanding soloist awards, and in 2011, premiered an original composition at the inaugural Composers and Schools in Concert “Commissions in Concert” event in Davis. In 2012, Jeric was awarded a partial scholarship to the University of Pacific’s Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Camp at Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Festival; received a full-tuition scholarship to the Berklee Five-Week Summer Music Program; was selected as a member of the newly-formed Mondavi Center SFJAZZ High School All-Stars; and with Rio Americano, was a finalist in the Combo Division at the Charles Mingus High School Competition and in the Big Band Division at the Essentially Ellington Competition in New York City. Jeric currently studies privately with Larry Lunetta, and has also received instruction from Dr. Steve Roach and Tom Peron.

Tenor saxophonist Jacob Shulman, 17, is a 2012 graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where he was a featured composer and performer for the LACHSA Big Band and Combo. Jacob was selected to Monterey’s 2012 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, as well as the 2012 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz All-Star Septet. His saxophone playing, composing and arranging has been recognized by Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Festival, Columbia University's Jazz Studies department, the Angel City Jazz Festival, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, and SESAC. He has studied under Robby Marshall, Walter Smith III, Robby Elfman, and Eric Patterson. In the fall, Jacob will attend Princeton University as a mathematics major.

Vocalist, pianist, composer, arranger, and choir director, Laila Smith, 17, is from San Jose, and is a graduate, as a junior, from the Marin School of the Arts in Novato, California, where she played piano and sang in the MSA jazz band, combos, and jazz choirs. Beginning piano at age four, Laila joined a jazz choir at age six. She has received many awards, including six DownBeat Student Music Awards; two ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards; three California All-State Jazz Choir selections; and Outstanding Vocalist/Soloist Awards from the Santa Cruz, Reno, Lionel Hampton and Next Generation Jazz Festivals. She was a member of the 2012 SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Combo and Orchestra and the 2012 GRAMMY Jazz Choir.  As a performer, she has appeared multiple times at Monterey’s Next Generation, Reno, San Jose, Santa Cruz, SFJAZZ, and Stanford Jazz Festivals; and the Jazz Education Network conferences. She made her debut at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2011. Under her direction in 2012, the MSA jazz choir placed third at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, and second at Reno. Laila is a 2012 YoungArts Silver Award winner in jazz voice; was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and performed at the Kennedy Center in June. Laila has studied with Kerry Marsh, Julia Dollison, Dianne Reeves, Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann, Darmon Meader, Dena DeRose, Madeline Eastman, Gretchen Parlato, Becca Stevens, and Roger Letson, to name a few. She will be taking a gap year in 2012-2013.

Trumpeter Tyler Tritt is a 2012 graduate of J.R. Masterman High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and studied with Bill Scheible, Mike Franchetti, and Matt Gallagher. Tyler has participated in many musical groups around Philadelphia, including Bravo Brass, Temple University’s  Community Music Scholars Program Jazz Orchestra; University of the Arts Youth Jazz Band, Settlement Jazz Combo, the Clef Club Jazz Workshop; and the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble. A three-year member of the Pennsylvania All-State Jazz Band, Tyler was also chosen to the 2011 All-Eastern Jazz Band, the 2012 Grammy Camp Jazz Session; and the 2012 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. He will attend the Manhattan School of Music in the fall.

Saxophonist Cameron Vohr, 18, is a 2012 graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington, where he plays lead tenor for the internationally acclaimed Garfield Jazz Ensemble. In 2011, he toured Europe with the group and performed at major jazz festivals across the continent including Jazz a Vienne and the Umbria Jazz Festival. In 2012, Cameron was also selected to play lead tenor saxophone for the Jazz Band of America under the direction of John Clayton. Cameron has had the great privilege of studying with many of jazz music’s modern masters including Ralph Alessi, Cuong Vu, and Jay Thomas. He will be attending the Manhattan School of Music in the fall to study with Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra founding member Joe Temperley.