MKA Junior Selected as Only One of Six Finalists for YoungArts Jazz Program
Many congratulations to MKA junior Isaiah Thompson who has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious YoungArts (formerly known as the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts) program. He will participate in National YoungArts Week in Miami from January 6-12, 2014, where he will receive instruction from some of the jazz world’s greatest teachers.
Thompson is among 170 of the nation’s top young artists in visual, literary and performing arts to be selected for this honor from an applicant pool of over 10,000, and is one of only six to be selected for the Jazz program.
Earlier this year, Thompson received the outstanding piano soloist award at the highly selective 2013 Jazz at Lincoln Center, Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition, and has spent the past two summers studying jazz piano on a full scholarship at the Berklee College of Music’s intensive summer program for high school students.
Thompson is currently the pianist/keyboard player in the MKA Upper School Jazz Band and a member of the MKA Concert Band on bari saxophone, and has studied music theory with Upper School Band Director Chuck Olsen. In addition to playing at MKA, he is the pianist with "Jazz House Kids Big Band" in Montclair and is a member the Lincoln Center Youth Jazz Orchestra. Isaiah has also participated in the NJPAC Jazz for Teens program.
Thompson is among 170 of the nation’s top young artists in visual, literary and performing arts to be selected for this honor from an applicant pool of over 10,000, and is one of only six to be selected for the Jazz program.
Earlier this year, Thompson received the outstanding piano soloist award at the highly selective 2013 Jazz at Lincoln Center, Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition, and has spent the past two summers studying jazz piano on a full scholarship at the Berklee College of Music’s intensive summer program for high school students.
Thompson is currently the pianist/keyboard player in the MKA Upper School Jazz Band and a member of the MKA Concert Band on bari saxophone, and has studied music theory with Upper School Band Director Chuck Olsen. In addition to playing at MKA, he is the pianist with "Jazz House Kids Big Band" in Montclair and is a member the Lincoln Center Youth Jazz Orchestra. Isaiah has also participated in the NJPAC Jazz for Teens program.
