Our Dear Friends, Glenn, Pippi, Peter, Jimi and Billy,

Thank you so much for your warm and gracious welcome extended to Zosha and our family. As a 16 year old, a violinist and a young woman from rural Minnesota, Zosha has faced several obstacles to developing her abilities as a jazz musician. To perform with a professional jazz combo has given Zosha the opportunity to take her music to another level through interacting with the other musicians during rehearsals, recording and the final performance.

During her featured tunes and while “sitting in” during the rest of the show, we saw her enter a world of musical conversation she has only begun to glimpse. It was as if she was growing up before our eyes, being a truly emotional experience for us, her proud parents. We certainly appreciate the encouraging comments and constructive advice from all the musicians. Zosha was “walking on air” when she left the building and I’m sure her level of motivation and determination to continue her jazz and music studies has never been higher. Though her involvement with the PipJazz program went by in a flash, I am sure she will look upon it as one of the “Landmark” experiences in her young life and for this we are very grateful. Best wishes for the continued success of your program and to all the young jazz musicians who will benefit, as Zosha has, from the experience.

Your friends, - Paul Warpeha and Rashimah New - Milaca, MN

Zosha Warpeha (violin) recalls that her interest in music and jazz started at home when she “begged my parents for 3 years to let me learn violin-- they gave in at the age of 7.”  Zosha (16) attended Princeton High School through 10^th grade and is now attending the Perpich Center for the Arts as a resident student. Although her first love is violin, Zosha also plays piano, bass and oboe in school bands; she has played violin in the Minnesota Youth Symphony, the St. Cloud Symphony, Dakota Combo, and plays “a mix of bluegrass, folk, rock, and jazz--all at the same time” in a band called The String Chickens, based in Princeton.

"I had a great time rehearsing and performing with Pippi and her band. I felt inspired with their words of encouragement and wisdom during the rehearsal. I am thankful to the band’s willingness to give their time to assist me. The chance to play and talk with pros makes me think that I could become one of them someday. What once seemed untouchable now seems achievable."

Jordan Anderson

Jordan was born in South Minneapolis on 7/6/98. He is currently 13 years old. Jordan started taking piano lessons in the spring of 2^nd grade at Schmitt Music. After attending a jazz clinic at Walker West Music Academy in 2010, Jordan decided to remain there to study classical and jazz piano. He currently takes private lessons at Walker West, along with being a member of one of Walker West’s jazz ensembles: HHC – Hit Hard Crew.

HHC had a busy summer playing at various events throughout the twin cities. Highlights include: On June 25^th, HHC played on the Mears Park main stage for the TC Jazz Festival. On June 29^th, it was Ella Fitzgerald Day at Midway Stadium with HHC performing after the game to help celebrate a national treasure. And finally, HHC was invited to play on the KFAI stage as part of the 6^th Annual Flow Northside Arts Crawl.

Jordan currently attends Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul as an 8^th grader in the school of logic.

DeCarlo Jackson (trumpet)

 started playing trumpet in early elementary school and has studied under Jeff Keys, Felix James, and (currently) Solomon Parham. In addition to the Dakota Combo (2010-2011), DeCarlo plays (with his brother Devante) in the jazz quintet, Public Newsense, which has been featured at the Freedom Jazz Festival, Selby Avenue Jazz Festival and Midtown Global Market Jazz Festival; also plays with Walker West Jazz Ensembles, with the Capri Big Band, and with a progressive post-rock band he recently started with friends called Armonia, in which he plays bass guitar. DeCarlo attends St Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts.

Quentin Tschofen (piano)

studies with Bryan Nichols at MacPhail and has participated in MacPhail’s summer jazz camps and combos (including the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 Dakota Combo), Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth jazz camp, and Minnesota Youth Jazz Band. Winner of the 2010 and 2011 Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education Jazz Piano Scholarship competitions, Quentin played for the U of M's Jazz Ensemble II as a Post Secondary Options student during his senior year of high school. He is now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and keeping busy with his own bands. He’s recently performed at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Dakota StreetFest, Midtown Global Market Jazz Festival, at the Dakota, Artists Quarter and Studio Z.

To My PipJazz Friends,

"Thank you for the wonderful opportunity; it was great to be able to work with and learn from these great musicians. It was a lot of fun!"

Quentin

Dear Glenn and Pippi,

First, congratulations on a terrific first season of PipJazz Sundays! Enjoyed the five concerts I was able to attend, the variety of guest performers and the unbelievable energy generated by all involved. And what a great way to spend an early Sunday evening when little else is going on and there’s free parking in downtown St Paul!

But what really makes this program unique is the Youth Program component. As a longtime advocate for jazz education, I find your approach to be unique in our area and at this level—bringing students into professional situations. This might be more common in classical music contexts, but these days, very rare in jazz. It’s the old “academy of the streets” concept but in a much more supervised, controlled, and ultimately safe setting. I have worked via Twin Cities Jazz Society and the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education to bring professional artists into our schools, to work intensively with our most committed students, and to provide performance opportunities for our jazz students. Generally that means putting student ensembles—school-based or independent bands—in club, concert hall or festival settings. These are invaluable experiences as students not only learn about performing in public but about the preparation that goes into performing.

PipJazz is offering the other side of this experience—putting students into professional bands, and performing in settings where expectations are for the professional, not student. Their “peers” in these situations are professional musicians, not fellow students. They have not one guest artist as role model, but four (or more) band members. So that increases the learning opportunity many times over, from the rehearsal to the formal performance and often with promotional opportunities as well, such as interviews on local radio and sample performances recorded for television broadcast.

I was honored to help identify students for the first two concerts of the youth program. Having observed these same students in a number of performances and workshops, it was so gratifying to see them delight in the opportunity to interact artistically, on a concert hall stage, with experienced musicians. And to be accepted as fellow artists! And of course, to hear and see the audience response to their music. I think this experience boosted their confidence in a way that no other experience can. They discovered that they aren’t just talented in the context of student musicians, but that they can actually make music with experienced role models. Whether or not these students end up as working professionals in a few years, they have been given an experience to last a life time, one that will undoubtedly affect them beyond music.

Best wishes for year two and I look forward to expanding our partnership.

Andrea Canter

Vice President, Twin Cities Jazz Society