REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR Spring 2021
Join our virtual community of young musicians in 2021! The Columbus Youth Jazz Program is keeping the spirit of jazz, music-making and creativity thriving during the pandemic with a semester of virtual sessions. Our instrumentalists and vocalists will take part in lessons, view & interact with artists during live performances, participate in masterclasses, and learn to play tunes every jazz musician needs to know. Beginning with an informal audition on January 3rd, we will meet every Sunday through the spring semester virtually on Zoom. Stay connected to Youth Jazz online, and we’ll be back “in-person” before you know it!
New for this semester: All students will receive complimentary access to JAG TV, Jazz Arts Group’s “virtual stage” for its 2021 performances, including PBJ & Jazz, Jazz at the Lincoln and Jazz at the Southern. You and your household will have the opportunity to join our virtual audience for performances by local and internationally renowned artists, as well as YOUR Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
For all musicians in grades 7-12. Each student will receive a student guidebook, virtual materials, playlists and more. No matter your experience level, this program is designed to keep you playing and developing.
The spring semester of the Columbus Youth Jazz program is “Pay What You Can”. In these times, we understand how the current pandemic could be creating a financial strain for you and your family. By asking families to “pay what you can,” we are able to ensure that all students in central Ohio are able to play music together, regardless of their financial situation.
This 18-week semester of the Columbus Youth Jazz program is valued at $125 per participant. What you choose to pay will help us compensate our teaching artists for their time and effort. Please enter the total amount that you wish to be charged in the registration form.
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. Donavan is currently the instrumental music director at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School.
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.
