Jacob Park

Guitar

Archbishop Mitty High School

Jacob was inspired to pick up guitar after watching different bands, with the Beatles being his biggest influence. I love of music is something he received from his dad when he was little, and recently he's found that music gives him a sense of liberation. The musicians that inspire him most are the Beatles, Wes Montgomery, John Coltrane and John Mayer, not because of flashy technical skill, but rather their emotional delivery.

His favorite musical memory was his first guitar performance in eighth grade, which made him want to keep going with music. He joined HSAS because he believes it's the place to meet musicians who are miles better than himself, who will push him to improve. He hopes to get more involved with the jazz scene and form valuable relationships through the program. When he's not playing music, Jacob loves to read, write and play golf.

Avianna Marin

Alto Saxophone

Notre Dame High School

Avianna got back into saxophone in sixth grade after listening to her friends playing duets during break, which really inspired her to pick the instrument back up. Playing and listening to music brings her happiness and serves as a way to connect with her friends and family. She's inspired by musicians like Sonny Rollins, who was the first jazz saxophonist she ever listened to, and she really admires his tone and improvisational skills. She also looks up to Lady Gaga because she's an amazing and resilient person, and Avianna especially enjoys her jazz albums with Tony Bennett.

Her favorite musical memory was performing at Disneyland with the Alum Rock Jazz Band, which was pretty incredible. She joined HSAS because she really enjoys playing in a jazz band but her school doesn't have one, and she hopes to improve her musical abilities and knowledge. When she's not playing music, Avianna enjoys participating in her school's robotics team, hanging out with her pets and spending time with family and friends.

Barbara Vasilyeva

Alto Saxophone

Saratoga High School

Barbara started fifth grade beginning band on clarinet, but watching her instructor play the bari sax led her to make the switch to saxophone the following year. Music serves as an emotional outlet and a way for her to express herself around like-minded people. She's inspired by musicians like Serge Chaloff, Pepper Adams, Tia Fuller and Dexter Gordon, who all bring something different to her understanding of the instrument.

Her favorite performance was with the CASMEC All-State Jazz Band earlier this year, which was an amazing experience. Barbara joined HSAS to connect with more musicians and have more opportunities to build her ensemble skills. Some of her hobbies outside of music are teaching, graphic design and collecting records.

Hyunwoo Kim

Alto Saxophone (Alt.)

Leigh High School

Hyunwoo heard a sax solo on a song when he was in third grade and thought it sounded cool, which eventually led him to join his elementary school's band in fifth grade. Music serves as his creative outlet where he's able to express himself, and he also gets to meet new people through it. He's inspired by musicians like Kenny Garrett, Sonny Stitt and Vincent Herring because of their clear and punchy tone, clear phrasing and melodic lines.

His favorite musical memory was learning to solo and play "Mr. PC" for the first time in sixth or seventh grade—this was actually the first tune he ever learned. He joined HSAS to improve his improvisation skills and get better at playing in a big band setting. When he's not making music, Hyunwoo enjoys playing soccer, collecting CDs, playing guitar and going thrifting.

Kunaal Pendse

Baritone Sax

Pioneer High School

Kunaal was inspired to take up the saxophone when he was 11, after watching Lisa Simpson play on The Simpsons. Since then, he's formed his own band called One Big Trout with some friends from school who play drums, piano and bass, and they've gone from just jamming around to actually performing real gigs. He's really into players like Ronnie Cuber, Paul Desmond, Herbie Hancock and Charlie Parker because they all have distinctive sounds.

One of his coolest performing moments was when his band played at Levi's Stadium for the Cal-Hi Sports Banquet, which was pretty incredible. Through HSAS, Kunaal has learned how to handle really challenging charts and has gotten better at big band playing, especially during those recording sessions. When he's not playing music, he's doing lacrosse, water polo, fishing or just hanging out with friends. His plan is to go to college and minor in music so he can keep developing musically along with his other studies.

Yuta Shin

Baritone Sax

Santa Clara High School

Yuta will be the first to admit he picked his instrument completely randomly—there wasn't some big moment of inspiration behind it. But music has become absolutely essential to his life now, like food and water, because he loves both playing and listening to it so much. What really inspires him are local musicians who've made music their living, since they keep his passion for music alive by showing it's possible to do this professionally.

Since his school doesn't have a jazz band, he joined HSAS to keep pursuing his passion for jazz. A returning member, his favorite musical memory was playing with the High School All Stars at the 2025 SJZ Summer Fest. He thought they sounded better than they had all year, which really showed how much the group had grown together. When he's not playing the sax, Yuta also enjoys volleyball and piano.

June McMahon

Bass

Notre Dame High School

June's musical journey was sparked by Christian McBride, whose emotional depth and leadership through music proved deeply inspiring. She has taken initiative in her musical development, participating in pit orchestras at Notre Dame and Bellarmine, and even starting a jazz combo at her school to fill the gap in their music program. A particularly memorable day in her musical journey combined a recording session at 25th Street Studio with a performance at Mark Geary's gig. Through HSAS, June has learned valuable lessons about leadership and listening skills. Beyond music, she maintains an active role in student leadership, organizing school events, and volunteering at a pediatric hospital. Her future plans ambitiously combine her musical passion with aspirations in pediatric medicine.

Eric Wu

Drums

Leigh High School

Eric started drumming in fifth grade after getting inspired by a friend and some YouTube videos that got him interested in making grooves. His dad was super supportive and got him electronic drums, which really helped him develop as a musician. Since eighth grade, he's been performing with Cal All State Jazz Bands, playing in school combos that focus on jazz and fusion and participating in programs at Stanford Jazz and Giant Steps.

He's really inspired by Larnell Lewis from Snarky Puppy, especially his kickdrum speed and technical abilities. Some of his best musical memories include his experiences with California All State and taking solos in a Summer Fest performance with HSAS. His time in HSAS, particularly in the U19s, has really improved his understanding of ensemble playing and taught him to focus on the overall musical feel rather than just showing off individually. When he's not playing music, Eric plays volleyball at a competitive level and does biology research through internships. He's still figuring out whether to pursue biology or music in the future.

Rey Gutierrez

Drums

Wilcox High School

Rey has been playing drums since before he can remember, but what really sparked his interest in jazz drumming was his middle school's jazz band. He remembers how cool he thought it was to play with a live band instead of a recording and, from that point on, he devoted his time and practice to jazz drumming. Music is something he doesn't think he would be able to live without—every day, he looks forward to jazz band, and when he gets home from football practice, he plays jazz.

Some of his biggest inspirations are his teacher Wally Schnalle, who brings encouragement and enthusiasm to each class, and Max Roach whose technique and clean sound on the drumset really inspire him. His favorite performance memory was playing with the SJZ New York Big Band at the SJZ Break Room because it was his first true big band experience. He joined HSAS to push himself to his limits and build a reputation in the area, hoping to make music his career someday. He also plays football for Wilcox High School and the occasional video game.

Rio Sato

Drums (Alt.)

Wilcox High School

Rio was first introduced to drums when her brother recommended them, but she was mainly inspired by thinking that being a drummer as a girl would be super cool and different. With her brother being a jazz guitarist, she knew many jazz songs - her childhood favorites were "Giant Steps" and "Salt Peanuts." At first, she started drums because of her family's encouragement, but in 2019, her brother took her to San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, she saw Richard Howell play tenor saxophone—that's when eight-year-old Rio actually started listening to jazz.

Music plays a role in her life as a tool to connect with other people—she's made almost all of her friends through music programs. She's inspired by drummers like Kavka Shishido and Yoyoka for their beautiful and energetic playing. Her favorite performance memory was during a Stanford Jazz Workshop concert when she accidentally dropped her sticks during a drum solo on "Manteca" but successfully pulled out new sticks from her stick bag and finished strong to loud cheers. She joined HSAS because her brother Ryota was in the band and she loved their cool song choices. Her other hobbies include drawing and modding mechanical keyboards.

Shreesh Basu

Guitar

Archbishop Mitty High School

Shreesh grew up in a family of singers and musicians, and was inspired by everyone around him to follow that passion somehow. Music allows him to express his feelings without words, which is really important to him. He's inspired by musicians like Tim Henson, John Mayer, JID and Tyler the Creator, among many others, who bring different styles to his musical understanding.

One of his favorite musical memories is when his first guitar teacher taught him about intervals and how the first two notes of the Simpsons theme song is a tritone—that kind of connection between theory and everyday music really stuck with him. He joined HSAS because he wants to perform and learn more about jazz and other sub-genres, expanding his musical knowledge. When he's not playing guitar, Shreesh also produces music and loves watching TV shows.

Ari Nemet

Piano

Mountain View High School

Zachary Li

Piano

Bellarmine College Prepatory

Zachary got really hooked on jazz when he started listening to Keith Jarrett and all his solo piano and group work. He wanted to not only play melodically and improvise whole songs on stage, but also achieve the melodic ability Jarrett has in his solos, plus his amazing groove and ability to stay in time and feel the pulse so well. Music serves as a way for him to enjoy his free time and have fun, especially when a song has great changes and progressions that sound like “heaven” in his ears.

He's inspired by artists Keith Jarrett for his groove and improvisational skills and Steely Dan for their changes and crisp sound. His favorite musical moments are when the band plays in groove and the song is executed well, seeing all the work pay off in performance. He joined HSAS to improve his sight reading and soloing ability while playing more advanced jazz charts. When he's not at the piano, Zachary plays tennis at his high school and participates in Boy Scouts.

Daniel Li

Tenor Sax

Valley Christian High School

Daniel started playing his instrument when his mom put him in Beginning Band in fifth grade. Music is a way for him to direct his time and effort toward bettering himself and serving others, which gives it deeper meaning in his life. He's inspired by musicians like Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane and many others because of the heights they have reached with their virtuosity, compositions and dedication to the craft.

His favorite musical memory was going to the LPAA Jazz Festival last year and playing with his school's Jazz Ensemble and Combo 3, which was a really great experience. He joined HSAS to get experience performing in a different environment and learn to improvise at a higher level, pushing his skills further than he could achieve on his own. When he's not playing music, Daniel goes to church, wrestles for his school and plays chess.

Rohan Arun

Tenor Sax

Foothill High School

Aryan Mohanty

Tenor Sax

Leigh High School

Jasper Yip

Trombone

Valley Christian High School

Jasper was inspired to start playing his instrument after listening to the trombones in dixie band music. Music allows him a creative outlet to express himself and relax from everyday stress, giving him a way to unwind and be artistic. He's inspired by the virtuosity of Marshall Gilkes and the simple yet captivating ideas of Steve Davis, who show him different approaches to playing trombone.

His favorite musical memory is performing at jazz festivals with his high school big band and making good music together as a group. He joined HSAS because he wants to gain more experience playing in an ensemble and hopes to learn how to blend better with a section and understand how he fits into the band as a whole. When he's not playing music, Jasper enjoys running and cycling in his free time.

Joel Choi

Trombone

Leigh High School

Joel first picked up the trombone in seventh grade because his school's jazz band had no-one to fill the slot, and it has easily been one of the best decisions he's made. He often listens to music to calm himself down, enhance his focus and regulate his emotions, while he plays music as a hobby, passion and stress reliever. He's inspired by Trombone Shorty, who came from nothing and played with Wynton Marsalis at just 13, and Wycliffe Gordon who has mastered many brass instruments.

His favorite musical memory is being part of his school's little band last year, where he had an amazing time performing and being in such a strong group taught him so much. He joined HSAS because he heard about the quality of the program and wanted a challenge, hoping to become a much stronger improviser. Joel loves to work out, hang out with his friends, train boxing at home and more.

Tai Shin

Trombone

Santa Clara High School

Tai was inspired to start playing his instrument by his brother, who got him interested in music. Music is his main hobby and one of the first activities he chose to do himself, which makes it meaningful to him. He's mostly inspired by people he sees play live because it's easier to get inspiration when the musician is physically there and they look like they enjoy playing.

His favorite musical memory is probably playing big band music at SJZ Summer Jazz Camp, where the selections were really fun to play and the people in his band were energetic and fun to work with. He joined HSAS because he really likes the jazz genre of music, which his school unfortunately doesn't provide, and he saw the previous HSAS band play and it looked like a lot of fun. He hopes to get better at controlling his embouchure and learn more about music in general. In his free time, Tai enjoys playing tennis and video games.

Thiago Castrillo

Trombone

Bellarmine College Prepatory

Thiago picked up his instrument when his elementary school band teacher dropped a trombone in front of him and told him to play—he was absent the day they tried mouthpieces. But that teacher and many others since are what inspired him to keep going with it. Music plays a huge role in his life and he can't imagine a world without it. He’s either playing or listening to music day in and day out.

For classic musicians, he looks up to Glenn Miller and JJ Johnson, who are both amazing players. For living players, he's inspired by Charlie Rosen and the 8-Bit Big Band, who are his favorites of all time. His favorite performance memory is playing for local schools around his elementary school and seeing kids dancing off to the side and having a blast. He joined HSAS again this year because it was such a great experience the first time, where he learned good skills and made many friends. In his free time Thiago enjoys reading comics, playing board games with his brother and watching TV shows.

Meena Swaminathan

Trumpet

Santa Clara High School

Meena was drawn to the bright sound of the trumpet and likes the contrast between the bold and punchy tone of big bands and the suave, lyrical tone of ballads and combo settings. Music is a huge part of her life—she listens to it all the time. It can brighten her mood to express herself through the trumpet while exploring a wide variety of music. She loves Chet Baker's soft, pillowy tone and Woody Shaw's soloing abilities, especially his endless runs that she strives to achieve. Herb Alpert is one of her biggest inspirations because his tone is so powerful but also shows so much emotion.

Her favorite musical memory was playing a Harry James piece with her middle school band at Disneyland after working really hard to perfect it. She rejoined HSAS because, last year, she met people with similar interests and wanted to develop those friendships along with her musical skills. She hopes playing lead this year will help her become a better big band player. When she’s not playing music, Meena plays water polo and swims. She also likes to hike, volunteer and spend time with her friends.

Massimo Bafetti

Trumpet

Leigh High School

Massimo got invited to check out a bunch of wind instruments as part of his elementary school's band program, and he vividly remembers choosing the trumpet because it was the loudest. He almost quit multiple times in elementary school but his parents encouraged him to stick with it, and he's eternally grateful. Music plays a central role in his life—he's almost always involved with music in some way, whether listening while doing homework, playing in ensembles or talking about new albums with friends.

He takes a lot of inspiration from Roy Hargrove, and particularly loves his extremely melodic style on ballads. He's also a huge fan of Snarky Puppy for its innovative and genre-bending approach. One of his favorite performance memories comes from a jam session at music camp this past summer, where everyone was so into the music and the energy was incredible. He auditioned for HSAS hoping to gain experience in a more advanced ensemble with unique performance opportunities alongside people who share his passion for jazz. Outside of playing trumpet, Massimo enjoys reading and working on various arrangement and composition projects.

Alex Shen

Trumpet

Crystal Springs Uplands School

Alex was first inspired to start playing trumpet through his dad’s record collection. Growing up, he'd sit with his dad while he played them, and that's where he first heard Donald Byrd—something about his sound really caught his attention with its warmth, energy and the way the trumpet could be both powerful and smooth. Music plays a central role in his life as both a creative outlet and a way to connect with people, giving him the chance to express emotions he can't always put into words.

He's inspired by Donald Byrd for his warm tone and ability to blend jazz with other styles, and Maynard Ferguson for his incredible range, energy and showmanship. One of his favorite performance memories was playing at the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, where he was thrilled by the energy of the crowd and the atmosphere of sharing music with people. He rejoined HSAS because it's been one of his most valuable musical experiences, surrounded by talented peers who push him to grow. Outside of music, Alex enjoys gaming, cooking and biking.

Landon Pham

Trumpet

Wilcox High School

Landon was inspired to start playing trumpet having heard a mix of Arturo Sandoval's cadenza on "A Night in Tunisia" and his favorite YouTuber who happens to play one. He really likes things that make noise, and music does that for him in a way that’s productive, and that people enjoy. His biggest inspiration is his teacher Armen Krakirian, who gave him all the knowledge he could and was genuinely interested in his playing.

His favorite performance memory was during the SJZ Summer Jazz Camp, where the band chemistry was on point and they were getting hyped during solos and having fun on stage—it was one of the first times he'd ever felt that way performing. He joined HSAS because he thinks he can grow a lot in such a band with strong bandmates and a director who will drive him. He’s hoping to learn more big band oriented playing and gain insight on things he's never thought of. Landon likes badminton and playing guitar for fun, though he never wants to be called to play guitar seriously.

Elena Hsu

Vocals

Leigh High School

Elena was inspired to start singing through musical theater because she really loved being on stage and performing with her voice, and when she discovered jazz she fell in love with the versatility and creativity it brought. Growing up with her music teacher mom also really inspired her to sing and create music. Music provides a place for her to be herself and put out the best parts of herself, and singing is her biggest form of freedom and expression.

Ella Fitzgerald has been an inspiration from “day one” because of her insane scatting—she's just the queen of jazz! Alicia Keys also really inspires her with her incredible talent and music. Some of her favorite memories are performing gigs with her band Actual Proof and others, when she can see the joy and happiness that music brings, when everyone is dancing and sharing something together. She rejoined HSAS this year because it's an amazing community that's taught her so much about playing with others and big band style. Elena loves to read, hang out with her brother and participate in theater productions.

Vaishnavi Paul

Vocals

Evergreen Valley High School

Vaishnavi started singing when she was young and has continued ever since, with music becoming a huge part of her life that gives her joy. She's inspired by Sarah Vaughan because of her distinctive tone and scatting abilities, which really influence her own approach to jazz vocals. Her favorite musical memory was performing at the Stanford Jazz Institute and getting to sing with other instrumentalists, which was an amazing collaborative experience.

She joined HSAS because she wants to gain more experience with a jazz band and thinks it will be a lot of fun. She hopes to learn how to coordinate with other musicians better and improve her overall skills as a jazz vocalist. When she's not singing, Elena enjoys playing piano, guitar and badminton.