Category: Home Page Post

Gilbert's 11 am class was thrilled when Marshall Hawkins stop in to give them a few pointers.  Mr. Hawkins runs the jazz program at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and was in town to attend an IAJSD board meeting. Mr. Hawkins in a living legend.  He was Miles Davis's bass player back in the day.  He teaches the kids with such depth and clarity.  His jazz lectures often touch on deeply spiritual issues.  He is a treasure and we are so blessed to have him as a mentor and board member. Brenda Greggio, the combo's piano player, wanted to express how

Read More›

Thanks to everyone for coming out to audition!  Auditions were held Saturday, Sept. 10 at Grossmont College.  We had 37 new and returning students come out to audition.  While the audition was taking place families enjoyed a potluck brunch and watched the student jam session led by our own Sean Lambert, a second year IAJSD student.  We applaud these kids for putting on a very entertaining show!  New students were welcomed into the group with incredible love and support.  It looks like the start of another great year. Now our students are anxiously waiting to see which ensemble they have

Read More›

On Thursday, August 18, 2016, 14 IAJSD students performed at Bayside Summer Nights at the Embarcadero.  This is the large San Diego Symphony Summer Pops stage which seats over 2000 people.  Gilbert Castellanos (Artist Director, IAJSD) was asked to curate a summer jazz series for the SD Symphony.  Last night, August 18, the concert was titled "The Future of Jazz" and featured our up and coming IAJSD students and Cécile McLorin Salvant, an incredibly talented 24 year old jazz vocalist. Click here to read an excellent article by local jazz reviewer and IAJSD board member Robert Bush. He captures the

Read More›

Today, July 28, 2016, IAJSD students and their parents were treated to a master class with Grammy Award winning trumpet virtuoso Chris Botti.  Botti is in town to play a concert in the Bayside Summer Nights series at the Embarcadero for The San Diego Symphony.  Thanks to the generosity of The San Diego Symphony, Botti was able to stop by the Grossmont College Recital Hall and share some wisdom with our students. Many of our students had the opportunity to perform for Botti and received wonderful feedback from him.  The students all did an exceptional job and Botti was impressed.

Read More›