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J, age 14, performs as part of the prestigious University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music Los Angeles Youth Jazz Ensemble ( LAYJE) after topping the nationwide U.S. audition search (top 3): Concert in two hours Los Angeles time: 7pm Sunday December 9, Newman Recital Hall. 

       Background: Last September, applicants nationwide were given a new 10-minute required audition piece to perform with improvs, followed by sight reading of notes, scales of blues and interview. Myra received the audition piece for him only one week before the day of audition.               

             Upon hearing him perform on alto sax after hearing hundreds of others,  the music director pointed at him and said, “dude, you’re the man!” 

               ♥ ♥ ♥

          ” … Founded in 1884, and today the oldest continually operating cultural institution in Los Angeles, the Thornton School consistently ranks among the top one percent of the nation’s music schools and conservatories. Graduates of the school attain positions with major orchestras, ensembles, recording studios and music industry firms and perform on stages and in studios around the world.

        “Blending the rigors of a traditional conservatory-style education with the benefits of studying at a leading research university, the Thornton School offers students a thorough music education in a real-world context. Located at the center of Los Angeles, the school is the collegiate partner of choice for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy, to name a few.

        “In addition to their work with these ensembles, Thornton students are a constant presence in local classrooms, reaching out to the next generation of musicians through music education and appreciation courses. With its faculty, students, events and work, the Thornton School is one of the most important cultural resources in Los Angeles.”

(quoted paragraphs and image from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music website, with graphics on J’s performance embedded by blog admin)