2011-12 High School All Stars

Announcing the 2012-13 San Jose Jazz High School All-Stars

Congratulations to the talented young players chosen for the roster of this year's All Stars! These students--representing 14 high schools from all over the Bay Area--were chosen during auditions on Sunday, November 11, 2012. Your first chance to hear this amazing ensemble will be the free High School All Stars Holiday Show on December 21.

Matt Stubbs, Alto Sax – Mountain View High School
Noah Schramm, Alto Sax – Los Altos High School
Alex Popoff, Tenor Sax – Valley Christian High School
Brittany Biala, Tenor Sax – Prospect High School
Caymen Kwasney, Baritone Sax – Los Gatos High School

Dillon Nunes, Trumpet – Archbishop Mitty High School
Nathan Tao, Trumpet – Valley Christian High School
Jordan Lief, Trumpet – Valley Christian High School
Ruben Martinez, Trumpet – Lincoln High School
Chris Drennan, Trumpet – Santa Teresa High School

Mina Blume, Trombone – Pioneer High School
Daniel Jio, Trombone – Lincoln High School
Akarsh Kumar, Trombone – Archbishop Mitty High School
Miguel Ledezma, Trombone – Lincoln High School

Mohit Kohli, Guitar – Homestead High School
Trevor Mitoma, Piano – Archbishop Mitty High School
Kendrick Magallanes, Bass – Santa Clara High School
Brandon Walters, Drums – Saint Francis High School
Lenny Ramirez, Percussion – Independence High School

Rebecca Cunningham, Vocals – Stanford University Online High School

About

The High School All Stars is a regional, audition-based music education program for students who are interested in the study and performance of jazz. The program includes a large ensemble and a combo. It’s designed to help students achieve a mastery of improvisation techniques while advancing their knowledge of music theory, arranging, composition, performance, and jazz history.

Participation includes weekly rehearsals at San José State University and performances in professional venues (thirteen performances in 2011-12). The program is under the direction of Dr. Aaron Lington, professor of music and coordinator of the Jazz Studies Program at San José State University. The band rehearses two-hours, once a week and engages in performances throughout the year. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm and are held on the SJSU campus.

Photo Credit: Jordan Rivers

Have the high school all stars perform at your event:

The High School All Stars are available to perform at concerts, festivals, civic celebrations, and corporate events as a way to underwrite the program and give our musicians excellent performance training. The High School All Stars try to accept gigs only on weekends and try to avoid playing during the day or in the evenings (except Fridays and Saturdays) during the school year.


In 2011-12, the High School All Stars performed for such organizations as Community Foundation Silicon Valley, San Jose Jazz, Santa Clara University, San Jose Museum of Art, EMQ FamiliesFirst, and San Jose Country Club. The concerts were performed at such venues as the Computer History Museum, Hilton Hotel, San Jose Museum of Art, Los Gatos Opera House, San Pedro Square Market, San Jose Country Club, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest.

Performance Schedule, click here (PDF document)

Stage Plot, click here (PDF document)

Dr. Aaron Lington, Director

Dr. Aaron Lington is a San José State University (SJSU) music professor and Coordinator of its Jazz Studies Program. He is an accomplished music educator, arranger/composer, and saxophonist. California Music Educators Association (CMEA) named him Jazz Educator of the Year; Downbeat Magazine has twice recognized him as a “Rising Star” in the Baritone Saxophone category; and SJSU honored him with a faculty award for outstanding teaching, professional achievement, and meritorious service to the University. Dr. Lington has adjudicated over 20 jazz festivals in the Western United States, including Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, Folsom Jazz Festival, and University of Houston Jazz Festival. In addition, Dr. Lington frequently performs with the Aaron Lington Quintet, and has performed with the San José Symphony, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra, and many others. Dr. Lington earned his Bachelor’s in Music from the University of Houston Moores School of Music, his Master’s in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, and his Doctorate in Saxophone Performance from the University of North Texas.

Contact:

Harley Christensen
Director of Education
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408 761-3588

Thanks to the following for their support of High School All Stars: