Every year the Kuumbwa Jazz Center collects the finest young jazz musicians in the county to put them together in one dynamite band, and this year’s model is ready to roll out.
Band director Steve Wilson leads the group drawn from Santa Cruz County’s high schools. This year, the players include saxophonist John Bouwsma, drummer Shamik Mascharak and bassist Leif Christiansen (all from Santa Cruz High School); tenor saxman Ian Bowman and pianist Maxwell Maurier (both of Pacific Collegiate); drummer Derek Mitchler (Harbor High); trumpeter Gabriel Ceredes (Watsonville High); vocalist Gabriel Johns-Robledo (Pajaro Valley High); violinist Jasmine Daniele (Monte Vista Christian); and guitarist Nick Wallace (AFE Homeschool).
Our congratulations to all these exciting young players, and to Kuumbwa for providing opportunities to young musicians that other communities cannot provide. It’s a real treasure.
Get kids and a great program.
Steve Wilson should be recognized for his work serving our youth:
Music Instructor – Cabrillo College
Music Director/Choral- Harbor High
Kuumbwa – Honor Band AND board of directors
Santa Cruz Jazz Festival- board of directors
and a killer pro trombone player and jazz singer