Young Lions Jazz Conservatory

05/24/2026

🎓 CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2026!

You showed up, you grew, and you made music that inspired.
We are so proud of you. Keep swinging! 🎺✨

Gilbert Castellanos

You showed up, you grew, and you made music that mattered. The heart and dedication you brought to YLJC this year will follow you into everything that comes next. This is just the beginning. We are so proud of you. Keep swinging! 👏🎶

05/19/2026

Wednesday (5/20) at Panama 66 — EXPANSIONS ENSEMBLE & NO ROOM FOR SQUARES ENSEMBLE! ✨🔥

1ST SET: 6:30 PM
EXPANSIONS ENSEMBLE
🎷 Amaury Fusté – Saxophone
🎵 Henry Gienapp – Clarinet
🎸 Lola Anderson – Guitar
🎹 Caden Fairfax – Piano
🎹 Owen Roberts – Piano
🎻 Rosalind Wilke – Bass/Voice
🥁 Clementine Anderson – Drums

2ND SET: 7:15 PM
NO ROOM FOR SQUARES ENSEMBLE
🎷 Maile Hefner — Saxophone (Alto)
🎺 Jesse Krupens — Trombone
🎸 Donovan Maes — Guitar
🎹 Ephraim Tao — Piano
🎻 Ivan Reyes — Bass (Upright)
🥁 Luca Serochi — Drums

THE YOUNG LIONS SERIES PRESENTED BY GILBERT CASTELLANOS
📍 Panama 66 |
🆓 FREE – All Ages
📅 WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM

👉 Stay after for the jam session hosted by YLJC artistic director, Gilbert Castellanos! 🎺🎶

05/15/2026

⏰🎉 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN | 2026–27 SEASON!
➡️ LEARN MORE: https://www.yljc.org

Registration is now open for students interested in joining us next season!
Be part of a dynamic jazz community, work with top instructors, and grow as a musician.

📄 Audition requirements are posted on our website.
💥 Scholarships available!

Gilbert Castellanos

05/12/2026

Wednesday (5/13) at Panama 66 — BIRTH OF THE COOL ENSEMBLE & ROLL CALL ENSEMBLE! ✨🔥

1ST SET: 6:30 PM
BIRTH OF THE COOL ENSEMBLE
🎷 Owen Sandland – Saxophone (Alto)
🎺 Sloan Kleven McGann – Trombone
🎹 Dario Arambula – Piano
🎻 Angel Santos – Bass
🥁 Sean Edora – Drums

2ND SET: 7:15 PM
ROLL CALL ENSEMBLE
🎺 Ryan Miller – Trumpet
🎺 Finlay Callaghan – Trombone
🎸 Joon Byun – Guitar
🎹 Ben Green – Piano
🎻 Patrick Sheehan – Bass (Upright)
🥁 Matthew Baylon – Drums

THE YOUNG LIONS SERIES PRESENTED BY GILBERT CASTELLANOS
📍 Panama 66 |
🆓 FREE – All Ages
📅 WEDNESDAY, May 13, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM

👉 Stay after for the jam session hosted by YLJC artistic director, Gilbert Castellanos! 🎺🎶

05/09/2026

A WEEK TO REMEMBER — JJO AT EE 2026 🏆
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Last week, JACOBS JAZZ ORCHESTRA traveled to New York City to compete at the 2026 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center — one of the most prestigious jazz education events in the country.
They delivered.
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🎖️ AWARDS
🏅 Top Band Honorable Mention · JACOBS JAZZ ORCHESTRA
🎷 Outstanding Alto Saxophone · KAHLIL CHILDS
🎷 Outstanding Tenor Saxophone · JORDAN YAEGER
🎺 Outstanding Trumpet · LUCA POSILLICO
🎺 Outstanding Trumpet · TIAM KHOSRAVAN
🎺 Outstanding Trombone · MILES DIXON
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A week of masterclasses, late nights at Smalls and The Five Spot, and a performance on the Rose Theater stage — all made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Dr. Irwin Jacobs. 🙏

Click the link for the full story, video and pictures!

Gilbert Castellanos

Jacobs Jazz Orchestra (JJO) at Essentially Ellington 2026🗽 New York City, April 27–May 3, 2026🎥 FULL VIDEO: JJO Performance and Awards | Jazz at Lincoln Center📸 IMAGES: JJO—EE26 ImagesJacobs Jazz Orchestra traveled to New York City for the 2026 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Ban...

05/05/2026

Wednesday (5/6) at Panama 66 — ONE STEP BEYOND ENSEMBLE! ✨🔥

ONE STEP BEYOND ENSEMBLE
🎷 Niko Gutierrez – Saxophone (Alto)
🎺 Josh Brookens – Trumpet
🎙️ Rachel Sanders – Voice
🎹 Amaury Fusté – Piano
🎻 Owen Grinnell – Bass
🥁 Aiden Reyes – Drums

THE YOUNG LIONS SERIES PRESENTED BY GILBERT CASTELLANOS
📍 Panama 66 |
🆓 FREE – All Ages
📅 WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM

👉 Stay after for the jam session hosted by YLJC artistic director, Gilbert Castellanos! 🎺🎶

05/01/2026

🎷 TUNE IN SATURDAY — JJO IS COMPETING LIVE! 🎷
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JACOBS JAZZ ORCHESTRA
representing Young Lions Jazz Conservatory
at Essentially Ellington 26
Jazz at Lincoln Center · New York City
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📺 LIVE STREAM · SATURDAY (5/3)
🕙 10:00 AM Pacific · 1:00 PM Eastern
🆓 FREE to watch — no ticket needed
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👉 Watch the stream here: https://www.yljc.org/events/jjo-competes-at-ee26
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Gilbert Castellanos

05/01/2026

04/30/2026

It's here. 🎷
The Jacobs Jazz Orchestra has arrived at Jazz at Lincoln Center for Essentially Ellington 2026. Day one and we're ready. Let's go!

Gilbert Castellanos

04/28/2026

Wednesday (4/29) at Panama 66 — ROOTS & HERBS ENSEMBLE & NIGHT DREAMERS ENSEMBLE! ✨🔥

1ST SET: 6:30 PM
ROOTS & HERBS ENSEMBLE
🎺 Krishna Ramaswamy – Trumpet
🎙️ Genevieve Wierzynski – Voice
🎹 Joseph Khoury – Piano
🎻 Angel Santos – Bass (Electric)
🥁 Corbin Willoughby – Drums

2ND SET: 7:15 PM
NIGHT DREAMERS ENSEMBLE
🎷 Quione Corrales – Saxophone (Alto)
🎺 Finn Doherty – Trombone
🎹 Sajan James – Piano
🎹 Isaac Lee – Piano/Vibes
🎻 Maximus Blake – Bass
🥁 Julian Machulsky-Benrubi – Drums

THE YOUNG LIONS SERIES PRESENTED BY GILBERT CASTELLANOS
📍 Panama 66 (Google Maps) |
🆓 FREE – All Ages
📅 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM

👉 Stay after for the jam session hosted by YLJC artistic director, Gilbert Castellanos! 🎺🎶

Gilbert Castellanos

04/23/2026

YLJC’s Jacobs Jazz Orchestra is heading to New York City to compete in Jazz at Lincoln Center's prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, the most celebrated jazz education event in the world! 🔥

Young Lions Jazz Conservatory's Jacobs Jazz Orchestra (JJO) is heading to New York City to compete in Jazz at Lincoln Center's prestigious Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, the most celebrated jazz education event in the world.The annual festival brings together top...