Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensembles

Run-through for tonight's Graduation Ceremony. Tonight's the night!

Congratulations to seniors Bishesh Paudel (trombone) and Miles Oppinger (guitar) for being selected to the 2024 edition of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Jazz Ensemble. The ensemble will gather from July 9–August 6 in New York. Acclaimed trumpeter and educator Sean Jones returns as Artistic Director and bandleader for a South African tour with guest soloist Alicia Olatuja. For more info on NYO Jazz visit https://www.carnegiehall.org/.../National-Youth.../NYO-Jazz. Congratulations Bishesh and Miles!!

HSPVA is honored to host Jazz Houston Orchestra as they rehearse for their May 30th concert, The Joe Sample Celebration with Special Guest: Sticks Hooper, 7PM, at Hobby Center. The ensemble is smokin', of course!

Some seriously talented seniors!

Art Fristoe (keys), Greg Petito (guitar), David Craig (bass) , Andrew Sneed (drums), and Warren Sneed (sax), will be playing on SATURDAY, May 4th at 3PM as part of Emmit's Benefit Weekend to keep Emmit’s Place Open ‼️. TONS of great music! Friday, May 3, 7pm, SATURDAY and SUNDAY, starting at 3pm. For more info call 713-728-0012. Support Emmit's Place! 4852 Benning St, Houston, 77035

Congratulations to Kinder HSPVA students Mia Desalos (bass) and Bishesh Paudel (trombone) who have each been selected to one of two editions of the 2024 NEA/Herbie Hancock Institute National All-Star Peer-to-to-Peer Jazz Quintet!
Mia will be participating in an all-expenses-paid weeklong performance tour with internationally renowned Jazz recording artist Terell Stafford (trumpet) in Wyoming the week of May 12 and Bishesh will be participating in an all-expenses-paid weeklong performance tour with internationally renowned Jazz recording artist Don Braden (tenor saxophone/flute) in Rhode Island the week of May 19.
For more information on the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, visit https://hancockinstitute.org.
Congratulations again, Mia and Bishesh!

Most excellent clinic with saxophonist Walter Smith III yesterday at Kinder HSPVA!
He'll be performing TONIGHT at the DocFest Jazz Festival along with Warren Sneed and the HSPVA Latin Jazz Ensemble (premiering music by HSPVA alum Mark Holden). Purchase tickets at door or docfestjazz.org. Starts at 7PM.

Our Spring Jazz Festival will feature the jazz program's two big bands and two official combos! The Thursday, March 21st concert features Jazz Combos 1 and 2, plus Jazz Ensemble 1- Special Guest, local piano legend Bob Henschen.
Friday, March 22nd concert will feature our two big bands plus a world premiere of a composition composed by HSPVA alum, Mark Holden performed by our newly-created Latin Jazz Ensemble. Pianist Henschen will also be featured on the Friday concert. Tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/jazz-spring-concert-tickets-142604. Bring your family and friends!

Our Spring Jazz Festival will feature the jazz program's two big bands and two official combos! The Thursday, March 21st concert features Jazz Combos 1 and 2, plus Jazz Ensemble 1- Special Guest, local piano legend Bob Henschen.
Friday, March 22nd concert will feature our two big bands plus a world premiere of a composition composed by HSPVA alum, Mark Holden performed by our newly-created Latin Jazz Ensemble. Pianist Henschen will also be featured on the Friday concert. Tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/jazz-spring-concert-tickets-142604. Bring your family and friends!

Jazz Spring Concert Tickets | HSPVA Friends The Kinder HSPVA Jazz Program's Big Bands and Combos perform with a special guest artist.

Amazing clinic with tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana this morning. Talk about a masterclass on the jazz transcription process - Wow!! Her group performs tomorrow at the Wortham, 8pm, as part of the DaCamera of Houston Jazz Series. You should go. 😀 Thank you Ellie Parker and DaCamera. Always the best!

As always, Kinder HSPVA Jazz had a blast participating in the UH -MSM Jazz Festival! Both 5th and 9th Period Jazz Ensembles performed. Guest artist Andy Martin's noontime clinic was totally cool. Kudos to Noe Marmolejo and all in involved in making the festival such a success! Also... Shout out to Ms. Childers, Mrs. Herrera, Mrs. Reynoso, an Mr. Fu for serving as chaperones. Thank you!

Congratulations once again to the Jazz Program's 2024 All-Staters!: Troy Liman (drum set) - TMEA All-State 5A Symphonic Band; Miles Oppinger (guitar) - TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble II: Bishesh Paudel (tenor trombone), Jackson Quevedo (bass trombone), Victor Herrera (trumpet), and Catherine Lawson (tenor trombone) TMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble I.

Go, Paul Cornish!

TMEA Region 23 Jazz rehearsals are underway. The bands are groovin' hard(!) with Richard Birk directing Jazz Ensemble 1 and Paul Baker work ing with Jazz Ensemble 2. Concert is Saturday at 5pm at Waltrip HS 1900 W. 34th St, Houston, TX. Hoping you can attend! FREE, no charge!

Strong performances this afternoon by both Kinder HSPVA Combos!! Combo 2 performed first followed by Combo 1. WONDERFUL clinicians for both groups with Tom "Bones" Malone and alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa working with Combo 2 and with Combo 1 trumpeter Aaron Vandermeer (UNC at Pembroke) and sax great Jeff Coffin. Thank you JENerations Jazz Festival (Rob Klevan) and the Jazz Education Network. And Special Thanks to Ed Wise for letting us use his bass!

On our way to the Jazz Education Network Conference being held at the Hyatt Regency- New Orleans! The groups play on Thursday, January 4th with Combo II playing at 3PM, Combo I playing 4:30PM.Both performances will take place in the Stand Room 12A. If you're attending the conference, please drop by!

Check it out!

'tis the season for giggin'!

The Kinder HSPVA Jazz Program had six students selected as winners in the 2024 Young Arts Competition. From l to r: trombonist Bishesh Paudel ('24), drummer Khalil Afra ('24), alto and tenor saxophonist Matthew Cruz ('26), and bassist Astrid Allen ('24). Also (not in photo), guitarist Miles Oppinger ('24) and recent graduate, guitarist/vocalist Leo Sandoval ('23) who is currently attending Peabody Institute. Congratulations, everyone!!

Kinder HSPVA Jazz Combo 1 plays at 12pm. Come on down!!

Fun, chillaxing performance this afternoon by the Kinder HSPVA Latin Jazz Project! The ensemble's debut performance! 😊 Thank you to the good folks at Discovery Green and thank you to all who were able to attend!

:)

“Something cool happened when the Institute’s graduate-level students came onstage to play "Actual Proof," a Hancock composition from his jazz-rock fusion years.” - The New York Times

Congratulations to the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble at UCLA Class of 2025 for performing such an incredible group arrangement of this Herbie Hancock classic at our 2023 Int'l Piano Competition Finals in NYC and All-Star Concert.

Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble at UCLA Class of 2025:
Alden Hellmuth | alto sax
Sasha Ripley | tenor sax
Yakiv Tsvietinskyi | trumpet
Miles Lennox | piano
Destiny Diggs-Pinto | bass
Ebs Daramola | drums