About the Columbus Youth Jazz Program:
Whether you’re a high school student looking for a high-level community music program or a middle school student looking to develop your musical voice, the Columbus Youth Jazz program at the Jazz Academy is the place to be! Each ensemble rehearses weekly and offers a variety of performances, guest artist workshops, free CJO tickets, recording sessions, and more during the season.
Auditions for the CYJ program are held in the spring each year and students are placed in one of four ensembles, including the nationally renowned Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. Additionally, any student can join the 8-week CYJ Lab in the spring and fall; simply sign up and join us for 8 weeks of jazz! No audition is required for participation in the CYJ Lab.
Mark Donavan’s broad classroom teaching background and extensive performance resume creates an environment that brings the best out of the young musicians he works with. He has launched two Central Ohio youth jazz bands: the Columbus Youth Jazz Workshop and the Columbus City Schools Jazz All-Stars. Both groups have brought together students from a variety of backgrounds and have inspired young people to study music in college and to play professionally. Donavan performs in the central Ohio area as a saxophonist and pianist and has appeared on stage with many regional and national acts. His professional writing credits include the Columbus City School district’s music curriculum and a jazz survey course for online learning. Currently the instrumental music director at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, Donavan serves as the site coordinator for Berklee College of Music’s City Music Network.
Ryan is the director of the Columbus Youth Jazz Studio. He also teaches jazz studies and jazz trombone at Capital University, low brass and jazz history at Denison University, and is on faculty for the Jazz Labs Dayton Camp. Previous teaching positions include at Kenyon College, Otterbein University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and as jazz faculty at Music For All’s Summer Symposium.
After graduating in 1995 from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors in Jazz Performance, Bryan cut his teeth in the industry as a soloist and guest artist with performers around the world on the Princess and Royal Caribbean Cruise lines. He then relocated to London, England for three years. He started teaching and also began performing and recording in salsa, jazz and function bands hired out for weddings and other special events. Bryan formed his own band playing original music at many of the popular jazz clubs in London, including The 606 Jazz Club, the Jazz Café and the Bulls Head Barnes. He has shared the stage with some of the most famous names in jazz such as Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett, Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Conrad Herwig, Jack McDuff, Slide Hampton and George Benson. He has also been a featured soloist for the Temptations, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Steve Winwood, Vaughn Weister’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Afro-Rican Jazz Ensemble, Kico Cowan and Expresion Cubana, The Four Tops and The Spinners.
Derek DiCenzo is a multi-instrumentalist who is as comfortable playing jazz on the acoustic bass as on the guitar or even the steel drum. He has been a full-time musician based in Columbus, Ohio for many years; his diverse influences and uncanny musical intuition has made him a much sought-after player. He has been a performer and instructor for Jazz Arts Group’s education programming for many years. Derek inspires students with his love of music and is well-versed in teaching students of all ability levels.
Robert Mason is a pianist and organist from Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from OSU with a BM in Jazz Studies and a minor in Music, Media and Enterprise.
