Introducing the 2023 Cohort of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA has selected an exceptional group of young musicians for its Class of 2023. The eight-member ensemble 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.
These musicians have undergone rigorous training, with their selection made through a competitive process judged by industry legends such as Herbie Hancock, Herb Alpert, and Ambrose Akinmusire. The Institute's mission is to offer college-level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters, and this class is no exception.
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance provides its programs free of charge to students, schools, and communities worldwide. Each student receives a full scholarship, along with a stipend to cover their monthly living expenses. The Institute's programs encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and respect for one's own and others' cultural heritage.
The students receive composition instruction from GRAMMY Award winner Billy Childs and study improvisation with Jerry Bergonzi and Dick Oatts. They also have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned jazz masters who serve as Artists-in-Residence, teaching and performing with the students.
The Class of 2023 will attain a Master of Music in Jazz Performance degree from The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music after completing the two-year program in spring 2023. Graduates of the Institute have gone on to major careers as performing and recording artists, touring the world with legendary jazz musicians and as leaders of their own groups.
Darynn Dean, the vocalist in the group, graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a B.A. in Jazz Vocal Performance and a minor in Cultural Studies. Philanthropist Herb Alpert expressed excitement for the new group of musicians to perform together and learn as a group after a challenging period for musicians and live music performances.
The students collectively known as the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble at UCLA, present high-profile concerts and lead jazz education and community outreach programs. The Institute preserves, perpetuates, and expands jazz as a global art form and uses jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities.
For more detailed information about the Class of 2023, including personal achievements and biographies, consult the Herbie Hancock Institute’s official website or UCLA’s jazz program announcements. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization established in 1986, known for fostering excellence in jazz performance and education.
The students, led by vocalist Darynn Dean, will continue their journey of education and self-development at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, seeking a Master of Music in Jazz Performance degree. In their spare time, they may delve into home-and-garden projects or explore the world of entertainment, possibly finding inspiration for their music in different genres, such as music.
