Bremerton WestSound Symphony's Youth Jazz Ensemble performed live for the first time for a small audience on April 18, 2021.
Youth Jazz Ensemble
Derick Polk, Director
PROGRAM
George GERSHWIN | Summertime
Bronisław KAPER | On Green Dolphin Street
Paul DESMOND | Take 5
Chick CORREA | Sea Journey
Miles DAVIS | All Blues
Clifford BROWN | Sandu
MEET THE MUSICIANS
Nolan Wolff
NOLAN WOLFF is a pianist and a senior at Klahowya Secondary School. He loves to paint and write, but music is by far his favorite art form. He plays in his school jazz band, but most of his time is spent gigging with many different groups around Northwest Washington. He's been playing for many years now, and has immersed himself in many different styles of music. Jazz is a major passion of his because of the ability to improvise and communicate during a song. Nolan will be graduating this June and attending Colorado State University in the fall.
Manu Rivas
MANU RIVAS is a 7th grader at Chief Kitsap Academy in Suquamish. He has played the cello for 5 years, piano for 2 years, and percussion for 6 years. He enjoys all types of music. In his spare time, he likes gaming, reading fantasy and mysteries, swimming, scuba diving, and traveling. He has really enjoyed playing with the jazz ensemble and hopes you enjoy the show!
Forrest Brennan
FORREST BRENNAN is the Tenor Section Leader in the Univ. of WA Husky Drumline, the Pep Band drummer for the UW Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, and drummer for Husky Women’s Volleyball. He also performed virtually for the College Football championship halftime show Jan 11, 2021, representing the UW Drumline. Forrest has spent his summers touring with Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps and the Columbian Drum and Bugle Corps. He has been the drummer for the esteemed Soundsation jazz choir at Edmonds Community College and the jazz ensemble at Peninsula College. Forrest toured Italy with the Unexpected Brass Band and loves to perform. Currently working full time for Zillow, completing on-line college courses, and teaching lessons in the evenings, Forrest is waiting out the pandemic with his family on Marrowstone Island.
Langholm Armstrong
LANGHOLM ARMSTRONG is a sophomore at Bainbridge High School. Over the past 6 years, he’s played both alto and tenor saxophone, and has been a student of Dave Carson for almost 3 years. He received a superior rating at the OMEA solo and ensemble competition in 2019 and 2020, but was not able to compete in 2021 due to Covid. He did make the 2021 WMEA All State band, and is looking forward to more in person concerts this year. The Bremerton Youth Jazz Ensemble has been one of the only outlets he has had for music this year, which has allowed him to continue to express his love of music.
Brandon Harris
BRANDON HARRIS is a junior at Bainbridge High School and has played various instruments both in and outside of the school band since 6th grade. These include tuba, tenor saxophone, piano, and bass. In the past, he has had piano lessons with Danny Figgins and saxophone lessons with Ralph Burton. He currently has bass lessons with Tracie Marsh. He received an outstanding soloist award at the 2020 Viking Jazz Festival and second alternate in the 2020 OMEA Regional Solo & Ensemble Contest with a superior rating.
Ian Fisher
IAN FISHER is 16 years old and a sophomore at Covenant High School in Tacoma, but lives in Olalla. He has been playing the trumpet for six years, including three years with Shelly Devlin, and three years of piano before that. He has played for various jazz bands and classical groups around the Key Peninsula and Tacoma. He has taken lessons from Shelly Devlin for three years. Other than music, Ian runs Track and Cross-Country, plays Ultimate Frisbee, and works with local fish groups.
Maria Powell
MARIA POWELL is a sophomore at Chimacum Junior/Senior High School where she has been playing alto saxophone since the 5th grade. In 7th grade, Maria began studying with private instructor, Dave Carson, and received superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble competitions in 7th and 8th grade. Finally an eligible freshman, Maria qualified for the Solo and Ensemble State competition on both alto and tenor saxophone. She also played tenor in the JazzEd Girls Ellington Project and the Quincy Jones Ensemble in Seattle. More recently, Maria qualified for All-Northwest Band on tenor saxophone, and won first place in the Port Townsend Symphony's Young Artist Competition. She lives on Marrowstone Island with her parents and brother and enjoys spending time with her horse, dog, two cats, and two chickens.
Derick Polk
Youth Jazz Ensemble Conductor, DERICK POLK, is a retired Navy musician who has performed around the world and with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry. He is now a member of the Bremerton WestSound Symphony, and performs with artists throughout the greater Seattle area. Derick has a Bachelor of Arts in music theory from DePaul University and a degree in music education from Northeastern Illinois University. Mr. Polk currently works as a substitute teacher in the Kitsap County school districts.