Saxophone with Eli S.

I picked up the saxophone when I was in fifth grade and have since fallen in love with jazz music! After my first time going to the Stanford Jazz Workshop in sixth grade, I started transcribing Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, and later Joe Henderson, one of my biggest influences. After playing alto in middle school, I switched to Tenor Sax in high school and began checking out Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt, who have become, along with Joe Henderson, my foundation of jazz language. Currently in my senior year at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, I am a part of the marching band (tenor sax), symphonic band (clarinet), and jazz band (tenor sax), while also gigging privately and with my mentor - Steven Lugerner - around the community in Atherton, Hillsborough, San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Altos. In addition to performing I have also attended the Stanford Jazz Camp for six years, the Stanford Jazz Institute for two years, and the Centrum Jazz at Port Townsend Institute recently this past summer. In addition to music, I absolutely love and have experience working with children, including those with developmental disabilities. For the past two years I have volunteered at the Arbor Bay School for Developmentally Disabled children in San Carlos as a teacher's assistant, working with elementary and middle school-aged children. In addition, during my freshman year I did individual math tutoring with the organization Healthy Cities Tutoring, helping a struggling sixth grader with understanding math concepts and learning time-management and organizational skills. Although I love playing jazz music, I have several other passions, including but not limited to scuba diving, sailing, hiking, and lacrosse. At school I am known for being on the Varsity Lacrosse team while also being the quirky jazz kid! My first priority is having fun, and I hope to help you have as much fun as possible playing music!