Virginia Commonwealth University

Andy Clausen has already gained considerable experience and recognition as a trombonist, composer, producer, and bandleader by the age of 17. Winner of the 2009 Gerald Wilson Award for Jazz Composition from the Monterey Jazz Festival, Clausen's "Fly" was performed on the MJF Arena Stage by the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra featuring guest soloist Wynton Marsalis. Clausen has held the first trombone chair in the acclaimed Roosevelt High School Jazz Band since his sophomore year, garnering outstanding trombone soloist awards from the Essentially Ellington Competition, Reno Jazz Festival, and Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. He can frequently be found subbing with Seattle area professional big bands including the Jim Knapp Orchestra, Jay Thomas Big Band, Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, and Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra. A seasoned bandleader, Clausen established his own sextet in 2007 with fellow members of the Roosevelt High School jazz band to serve as a testing ground for their diverse compositions. After two and a half years of frequent performances at Seattle clubs, The Andy Clausen Sextet completed their debut album, "Follow," slated for imminent release on Emergence Records. Clausen also serves as co-leader, producer, and sound designer and for the ambient electronic metal band, Sjenka, for whom he produces studio recordings and live performances of dynamic and layered soundscapes filled with striking juxtapositions of sounds and textures. Clausen's teachers include Jeff Hay, Scott Brown, Jim Knapp, Jay Thomas, Elliot Mason, Cuong Vu, Ko-Ichiro Yamamoto and Wayne Horvitz.

Since becoming a professional musician at age 16, Richard Emery has played at the Columbus Jazz and Rib Festival, Gahanna Creekside Jazz and Blues Festival, Columbus Museum of Art, and First Day Columbus. He has also performed with Wess Anderson, Herlin Riley, Christian Howes, and Bryan Olshetski. Emery has performed numerous engagements around the city for private parties, weddings, the Ohio Arts Council, the Jazz Arts Group, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and for client requests through the Fort Hayes Music Career Center. He is a member of the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra and a Hank Marr High School Jazz Competition Finalist. He has studied with great teachers such as Stan Smith (Capital University), Tim Cummiskey (Ohio State University), and local guitar players such as Derek DiCenzo, Paul Brown, and Shawn Bradshaw. He also studies arranging with Vaughn Weister, jazz at Westerville South High School with Todd Stoll, and also studies at the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Career Center for Music with Jeff McCargish.

Stillman, then a senior at Milton High School in Milton, MA, had been studying woodwinds privately since fourth grade, including clarinet and saxophone, primarily under Bill Vint of Arlington, MA and more recently Linda Poland of West Roxbury, MA. At Milton High School, Gabriel has been a member of the school's Jazz Combo I, Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Pitt Orchestra since freshman year. He currently serves as President of the Jazz Combo and Band, Vice President of Concert Band, and also performs in the wind ensemble. At school he has studied under Dr. Noreen Diamond Burdett, Rebecca Damiani and Gary Good. Having successfully completed A.P. Music Theory in his junior year, he has been asked by the Chair of MHS Music Department to tutor students taking the course this year.

Gabriel is a member of the Tri-M Society. He has received numerous awards in high school for his musicianship including: the Judges' Choice Award from the 2008 Berklee College of Music Annual High School Jazz Festival, a Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship from the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the 2008 Most Valuable Contribution Award from the Milton High School Music Department, the 2007 MHS Music Department Leadership Award, and the 2007 MHS Music Department Spirit Award.

Over the past three summers Gabriel has participated in intensive summer jazz experiences including "Jazz in July" at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Foxboro High School's Jazz Camp, Berklee College of Music's Five-Week Performance Program, and Jazz at the River School Music Conservatory. His winning jazz score, "The Trademark," recently also won first place in the 2008 IAJE-MA Robert Ayasse Memorial Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest, adjudicated by Jeff Friedman and Greg Hopkins, Professors of Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music, and James O'Dell, Associate Dean at The Boston Conservatory. And you can see him in the back pages of the March 2009 _Down Beat_ as winner of VCU's Competition.

Gabriel eventually hopes to pursue a doctorate in music and teach music theory and composition at the high school and/or college levels, as well as conduct ensembles.

Fry, then a junior at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., has studied piano since age five and performed in New Trier’s jazz band, swing choir, jazz guitar ensemble and musical theatre productions. He also sang as a tenor vocalist and performed on guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, mandolin, ukulele and percussion. Such varied skills led to a natural interest in music composition and arranging.

The recipient of the Director’s Award as the outstanding instrumentalist at his junior high school, Fry performed as a singer, guitarist and voice-actor on children’s recordings for Kid Rhino and Warner Bros. records and on soundtracks for such national commercials as Kellogg’s and McDonald’s. As a member of a children’s choir, he also performed at such venues as the White House, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Disney World and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Fry also served as youth music leader at his church and organized and produced a concert to benefit a charity for African children. That event featured his original music with arrangements for a 40-piece orchestra and generated more than $1,600 for the relief effort. He was selected for the IMEA All-District Honors Vocal Jazz Ensemble, wrote the theme song for a New Trier student television production and composed and arranged the opening number for the school’s annual student-produced musical revue. He has recorded and released his original songs on five CD projects, on which he sings and plays all the instruments. His music has been featured by his popular acoustic quartet, 3 Miles East.

Om, then a senior at Chantilly High School in Chantilly, Va., played the piano and violin and was a fourth-year member of the Chantilly Orchestra. She started writing music under the tutelage of Chris Johnston, a music and computer technology teacher at Fairfax High School Academy, where she took the class.

After graduating from high school, Om intended to attend college and study composition.

“My goal is to make a difference in someone’s life through music,” she said. “I believe that music is a miracle. And I want to pursue my dream of becoming a musician that heals people’s hearts with my creation.”

Alex Brown, then a student at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., had already earned extensive writing and performance credits at age 17. He was a featured pianist and violinist at the 16th annual Curacao Jazz Festival near Venezuela; was one of only 10 students from across North America to receive a scholarship for the Telluride All-Stars Band to perform at the Telluride Jazz Celebration in Colorado; performed at the All That Jazz Weekend in North Carolina; and was a featured pianist and violinist with his own trio for two consecutive years at the Chestertown Jazz Festival in Maryland.

He has appeared on stage with such distinguished jazz musicians as trumpeter Jon Faddis, flutist Dave Valentin, guitarists Larry Coryell and Steve Abshire, saxophonist Jane Bunnett and bassists Keter Betts, Pepe Gonzalez and Arvell Shaw, as well as the U.S. Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band and at such venues as the East Coast Jazz Festival and Baltimore Washington Jazz Fest. Brown was accepted into the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop in October 2004 and was awarded an Honorable Mention by ASCAP for his composition “Take the T.” He performed throughout the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan area as both a soloist and leader of the Alex Brown Trio.

Brown has played the piano since age six and violin since age eight and is also an accomplished percussionist. His classical credits include numerous first-place awards at local and state levels. At the age of 13, he won first place in the Encore Orchestra Young Artist Competition, then performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” in its entirety. He was named a finalist in the Talent Category of the Maryland Distinguished Arts Scholar Program. He has performed with the Maryland All-State Band and Jazz Band and with the All-State Orchestra.

Participating in the VCU Jazz Composition Competition was a fabulous experience. This would have been true even if I had not been a winner. Receiving the thorough, constructive criticism from the VCU professors was a huge help, as I previously had not had this type of opportunity. It was evident that both Professor García and Professor Richards took a lot of time providing me with feedback on the music that I submitted. The comments were invaluable (particularly since I have had little instruction in composition) and greatly helped me to edit my charts and see in what areas I could use improvement.

Of course, winning was a great opportunity as well. Coming down to Richmond for the performance was a remarkable experience. To begin with, it is always amazing to be able to hear a piece you wrote being performed. This was how I felt when I heard the band rehearsing my composition, “WL Guidance Department.” In addition, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to perform my piece with the group in front of an enthusiastic audience. I had actually had the opportunity to meet and have lunch with Professor García at the IAJE Conference in Long Beach a month before the performance, but it was really great to see him again and also to meet Professor Richards as well. I also really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet and work with this very professional group of music students in the jazz band.

A performance of the piece was not the only result of winning. In addition to receiving a monetary award and a scholarship, I was able to receive several extremely useful composition books that are essential to every musician’s library. These books have helped to further my education as a musician, and I was very excited to receive them.

The final benefit of winning the competition is that Professor García is now helping me make final edits on my piece in order to try to get it published. As a result of a partnership with the competition, Warner Brothers Publications has priority in reviewing my composition.

Overall, my experience in the first VCU Jazz Composition Competition was fantastic, as it helped me really grow as a musician. I learned a lot as a result of the process of writing, editing, performing, and working towards getting my piece published. The competition is a win-win situation because even if you are not a “winner,” everyone involved ultimately benefits.

R.W. Enoch, a senior at Richmond’s Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, played the saxophone and clarinet under the tutelage of VCU jazz faculty members John Winn and J.C. Kuhl. An accomplished musician in both the jazz and classical idioms, he has performed as lead tenor saxophonist in ensembles including VCU’s Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band and Greater Richmond Youth Wind Ensemble, the All-District I Symphonic Band, and the VCU Jazz Orchestra I. He co-founded and led The Fat Four, a quartet of high school students performing at local jazz venues including Bogart’s and the Upper East Side Jazz Lounge. He pursued his studies at the Berklee College of Music Five-week Summer Performance Program in Massachusetts and the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop in). Enoch interned at 88.9FM WCVE, the local NPR affiliate, with jazz host Peter Solomon and planned to continue his study of music at the university level.