Introducing the 2023 Class of Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance
Eight Promising Jazz Musicians Join UCLA's Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA has announced the selection of eight exceptional young musicians for its Class of 2023. These talented individuals have been chosen following a rigorous audition process, judged by distinguished artists such as Herbie Hancock himself, Herb Alpert, and Ambrose Akinmusire.
The Class of 2023 includes tenor saxophonist Art Baden, alto saxophonist Devin Daniels, vocalist Darynn Dean, trumpeter Julien Knowles, bassist Emiliano Lasansky, drummer Benjamin Ring, pianist Javier Santiago, and clarinetist Matthew Stubbs.
Art Baden, who studied at the Hanze Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen, Netherlands, and the Berklee College of Music, has been mentored by Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Ralph Peterson, and Frank Tiberi.
Devin Daniels, an alto saxophonist, participated in the Institute's Jazz in the Classroom and All-City Big Band music education programs in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has performed with Billy Childs, Donald Vega, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Ralph Moore, and Miguel Artwood Ferguson.
Darynn Dean, a vocalist, graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a B.A. in Jazz Vocal Performance and a minor in Cultural Studies. She has performed with Freddie Cole, Dave Holland, Dave Koz, Hubert Laws, and Aaron Parks.
Julien Knowles, a trumpeter, studied at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he received the Presidential Scholarship and the Agnes Barringere Music Memorial Endowment. He has performed with Kurt Elling, Tierney Sutton, and Diane Schuur.
Matthew Stubbs, a clarinetist, studied at the Berklee College of Music and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He has performed with Danilo Pérez, Kenny Werner, and Rakalam Bob Moses.
The students will study both individually and as a small group, receiving personal mentoring, ensemble coaching, and lectures on the jazz tradition. They will attain a Master of Music in Jazz Performance degree from The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz preserves, perpetuates, and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. All of the Institute's programs are provided free of charge to students, schools, and communities worldwide.
World-renowned jazz masters serve as Artists-in-Residence, teaching and performing with the students. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble at UCLA presents high-profile concerts and leads jazz education and community outreach programs in Los Angeles, across the United States, and around the world.
Herbie Hancock expressed his excitement about the new class of talented young musicians and their potential contributions to the world of creative music. The students have received full scholarships and stipends to cover their monthly living expenses. The Institute of Jazz Performance accepts one ensemble of musicians for each class and provides them with unparalleled opportunities to study jazz and improvisation with master musicians.
- Art Baden, a saxophonist who studied at renowned music institutions including the Berklee College of Music, demonstrates a strong commitment to education and self-development in the realm of music.
- The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, an institution promoting global unity through entertainment and music, provides young musicians like Darynn Dean with opportunities to hone their skills and contribute to the jazz tradition.
