Several outstanding local musicians will head off to prestigious music schools across the country in the coming weeks.
Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, New York University’s Steinhardt School and University of Houston’s Moore School of Music are among the institutions welcoming the recent high school graduates and former students of music programs such as Tucson Jazz Institute, Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra and Tucson Junior Strings.
That doesn’t surprise Scott Black.
“We are collecting people who share a passion in music and exposing them to higher standards and expectations and putting them in a community atmosphere to succeed and shine,” said Black, an instructor and co-founder of the Tucson Jazz Institute. Within his group of 100-plus musicians, he lost 16 seniors to graduation this year, 13 of whom will pursue music in college.
Ramon Garavito Jr., a tubist with Tucson Philharmonia Orchestra before he graduated in May, credits his experience with shaping his direction.
Throughout Garavito’s childhood he tried activities he enjoyed like soccer and chess but never felt like sticking with anything until he found music.
“As soon as I joined band in seventh grade, my self-esteem and everything went up right away,” said Garavito. “It was immediately gratifying to be a part of a music program and have so many people to learn from and perform with.”
Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra lost 39 seniors out of its orchestra of 105, said its music director, Suzette Battan.
Musical programs like these help develop musicians’ skills and put them in a position to pursue their dreams. Garavito is taking his musical talents to Arizona State University to double-major in education and tuba performance.
Beethoven is credited with saying musicians “must have the heart of a Gypsy and the discipline of a soldier,” which is what it takes to earn a sizable scholarship to some of the country’s most prestigious schools of music.
Like former Tucson Jazz Institute pianist Robbie Lee, who was awarded a $30,000-a-year scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York to major in jazz piano performance. Trombonist Sam Chess earned a $28,000-a-year scholarship to the Juilliard School, where he will major in trombone performance.
Garavito and Lee started performing in seventh and eighth grade, which is common, according to Black. They also normally attend more than one program to fully develop all musical styles and techniques, which explains the harmonious chemistry present during every ensemble.
Especially the Tucson Jazz Institute’s Ellington Big Band, which has taken the top prize in the Essentially Ellington Competition in New York City over the past two years.
“There is no other program that I’ve aged in that is as tight and helps you progress as fast as the Ellington Big Band program,” said Kacey Fassett, two-time Essentially Ellington individual winner. Fassett would drive twice a week from Phoenix to Tucson to rehearse with the band.
She is attending New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development to major in jazz performance and minor in literature.
Graham Place will stay in Tucson after earning $160,000 in scholarships and will attend the University of Arizona. He said the most rewarding performance of his musical career was winning the opportunity after the Essentially Ellington Competition to perform at New York City’s Lincoln Center with the Tucson Jazz Institute.
Other noteworthy graduates have gone on to play in symphonies in Chicago, Cleveland, Minnesota, Toronto, Seattle and New Orleans, as well as in the Tucson Symphony, said Dennis Bourret, the musical director of Tucson Junior Strings. Tucson Junior Strings averages about 200 students per semester and said goodbye to about 18 graduates.
“There are 11 ex-Tucson Junior String members in the TSO at this time,” he added.
