Directed by esteemed educator and performer Paul Contos, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Jazz Orchestra comprises 24 of the finest young Bay Area jazz musicians, selected annually by competitive audition. The ensemble has appeared at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ Spring Season, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Competition, Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Jazz Education Network Conference, and at concerts in top professional jazz clubs, festivals, museums, and community arts centers throughout California. Ensemble members enjoy regular workshops, master classes and mentoring sessions with leading artists, such as members of the SFJAZZ Collective, Terence Blanchard, Yusef Lateef, and Vijay Iyer.

The rewards are evident in their "dynamite" (JazzTimes) performances, which give “testimony to the continuing persistence of the creative spirit” (Los Angeles Times). "These kids are amazing," wrote the San Jose Mercury News, "jazz has a future!"

2011-2012 Members:

Saxophones

Connor Anderson, alto, FAME Public Charter, Concord, class of 2012
Jacky Zheng, alto, San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2012
Kim Stephenson, tenor, Foothill High School, Pleasanton, class of 2012
Michael Liao, tenor, Washington High School, Fremont, class of 2012
Ryan Ayres, baritone, Foothill High School, Pleasanton, class of 2012

Trumpets

Arbel Efraty, Lowell High School, San Francisco, class of 2014
Rachel Doolittle, Northgate, Walnut Creek class of 2012
Tracy Fitzsimmons, Oakland School of the Arts, Oakland, class of 2012
Bryan Louie, Stevenson School, Salinas, class of 2013

Trombones

Anna Rubenstein, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2012
Paco Avila, Berkeley High School, Berkeley, class of 2012
Jefferson Seidl, Skyline High School, Oakland, class of 2012
Ruben Sandoval, SF School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2014
Adeyemi Demetrius, SF School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2012

Piano

Omree Gal-Oz, Gunn High School, Palo Alto, class of 2012
Nick Lamb, Berkeley High School, Berkeley, class of 2012

Guitar

Tyler Fair, Menlo Atherton, Portola Valley, class of 2012

Bass

Logan Kane, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, class of 2014
Kanoa Mendenhall, Stevenson School, Pacific Grove, class of 2015

Percussion

Marcelo Bourque-Perez, drums, Berkeley High School, Berkeley, class of 2013
Ayinde Webb, drums, Oakland School of the Arts, Oakland, class of 2012
Ahkeel Mestayer, percussion, SF School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2013

Auxiliary

Laila Smith, vocals, Marin School of the Arts, Novato, class of 2013

Alternates:

Saxophones: Nico Scolieri, Michael Blasky

Piano: Thomas Wilson, Matthew Wong

Guitar: Kai Lyons

Bass: Rachel Dunzweiler

Drums: Zev Shearn-Nance, Rohan Punamia

Vocals: Jack Gorlin

2010-2011 Members:

Saxophones

Jillian Ryan, alto, Marin School of the Arts, Novato, class of 2011
Ranzel Merritt, alto, Oakland School for the Arts, Oakland, class of 2011
Kim Stephenson, tenor, Foothill High School, Pleasanton, class of 2012
Robby Sheppard, tenor, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, class of 2011
Nico Scolieri, baritone, SF School Of The Arts, San Francisco, class of 2013

Trumpets

Alec Michels, Acalanes High School, Lafayette, class of 2011
Luke Weidner, Marin School for the Arts, Novato, class of 2011
Steven Groves, Salinas High School, Salinas, class of 2011
Jared Keil, San Ramon Valley High School, San Ramon, class of 2011
Tracy Fitzsimmons, Oakland School of the Arts, Oakland, class of 2012

Trombones

Mark Fedronic, Carlmont High School, Belmont, class of 2011
Jefferson Seidl, Skyline High School, Oakland, class of 2012
Ruben Sandoval, SF School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2014
Adeyemi Demetrius, SF School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2012
Andrew "Max" Fisher, Marin School of the Arts, Novato, class of 2011

Piano

Omree Gal-Oz, Gunn High School, Palo Alto, piano, class of 2012
Jordan Carrington, piano & vibes, Marin School of the Arts, Novat, class of 2011

Guitar

Kai Devitt-Lee, Healdsburg High School, Healdsbur, class of 2011

Bass

Chris Jefferies, Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley, class of 2011
Casey Karr, Marin School of the Arts, Novato, class of 2011

Percussion

Scott Lowrie, drums, Aragon High School, San Mateo, class of 2011
Malachi Whitson, drums, Middle College High School, Richmond, class of 2011
Ahkeel Mestayer, percussion, SF School of the Arts, San Francisco, class of 2013

Auxiliary

Laila Smith, vocals, Marin School of the Arts, Novato, class of 2013

Alternates:

Saxophones: Joseph Kwon, Christian Ortiz, Ben Rice, Trent Braswell,
Michael Blasky, Evan Waltmire, Connor Anderson, Ryan Ayres

Trumpet: Mikey Cho

Piano: Harmony Chua

Guitar: Chili Corder

Bass: Daniel Durst, Erik Shiboski

Drums: Ayinde Webb, John Spencer, Alexander Szotak

Percussion: Henry Oyekanmi