Young Sounds
Young Sounds Announces FREE Concert & Master Class with Renowned Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi
Phoenix, AZ (April 13): Young Sounds of Arizona is pleased to announce that renowned tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi will be joining our ensembles on Monday May 8th at the Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale for a free performance that is open to the public. “Jerry Bergonzi is a fantastic saxophonist and truly understands jazz at its core. We are thrilled that he will be working with our students and performing with them as well. This is such a unique opportunity for Young Sounds members”, said Director Andrew Gross.
Continue ReadingYoung Sounds of AZ Offers Free Community Jazz Night
Young Sounds of Arizona has partnered with The Salvation Army to offer a night of vibrant jazz at The Kroc Corps Community Center on Monday April 3rd. The concert is part of Young Sounds’ efforts to reach out to communities where exposure to the arts may be limited.
Continue ReadingYoung Sounds Kicks off 2017 in joint Performance with MCC Jazz Band
On Wednesday March 8th, Young Sounds of Arizona and the Mesa Community College Jazz band will team up to offer a lively evening of jazz at MCC’s Performing Arts Center. This performance offers Young Sounds (YS) members a chance to both broaden their performance experience and reach new audiences. Additionally, it is a great opportunity for YS members to meet MCC music department faculty as well as music majors.
Continue ReadingRemembering Vince Wedge, Young Sounds of Arizona director
By Patricia Myers
Musicians and students are remembering the valuable guidance gained from trombonist-educator Vincent “Vince” Wedge, director of Young Sounds of Arizona, who passed away on Sept. 24 after a courageous battle against cancer.
Continue ReadingScholarships awarded to Young Sounds of Arizona student-musicians
By Patricia Myers
Scholarships totaling $6,500 have been presented to six members of The Young Sounds of Arizona. The non-profit organization for talented high school jazz musicians was created in 1971, and has been continuously sponsored and funded by Professional Musicians of Arizona, Local 586 AFM.
Continue ReadingRiffs: Music news from out and about
By Patricia Myers
There’ll be no dearth of sizzling jazz and hot blues this month, notably starting with the 7 p.m Tuesday June 7 concert by teenage members of Young Sounds of Arizona. The ability level and cohesive sounds of these youth ensembles has thrilled and amazed audiences ever since the organization’s 1971 inception by and support of the Phoenix Musicians Union.
Continue ReadingInterview: Dawson Weiss, drummer for June 7 concert by Young Sounds of Arizona
By Patricia Myers
Dawson Weiss entered the world of jazz music via a close family tie: her grandfather Alan Whyte, who was a big-band pianist in the 1940s. Her love of playing drums started at the age of 12, and she also plays acoustic guitar and electric bass.
Continue ReadingReview: Young Sounds of Arizona concert
By Patricia Myers
An impressive and entertaining concert presented by Young Sounds of Arizona showcased four groups of high-school student musicians on May 3, 2016, for a standing-room-only audience of jazz fans, family members and friends.
Continue ReadingInterviews: Young Sounds of Arizona combo, performs Nov. 24 at MCC
By Patricia Myers
Jazz entered the young lives in different ways for five members of a combo that emerged from the Young Sounds of Arizona’s two larger ensembles. All three groups will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 in a concert featuring the Mesa Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble with Nick Manson on piano (formerly Arizona Jazz Masterworks Orchestra) in the Mesa Community College Performing Arts Center
Continue ReadingInterview: Larry Lederman tells how Young Sounds of Arizona started.
By Patricia Myers
Larry Lederman remembers how Young Sounds of Arizona came into being as a multi-high-school jazz band of teenage musicians. And what a concept it was: Students from schools that were zealous sports rivals would get together regularly to play jazz.
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