NEW YORK- The renowned Jazz Houston Youth Orchestra just tore the roof off Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan and impressed attendees at the Montclair Jazz Festival. And this relative baby of an organization is only getting started.
Roughly eight years ago, Vincent Gardner, the lead trombonist with Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and his wife, vocalist, songwriter, performance coach, and mentor Belinda Munro-Gardner, moved to Houston. Their reason was to create an organization that could garner ongoing financial support to keep the art form they both love (Jazz) alive and well and accessible to the general public.
In Houston, they found their people, like-minded souls who wanted to create institutional support to grow Jazz’s imprint on the Bayou City. To that end, they founded Jazz Houston.
But they didn’t stop there.
JHYO born
For jazz to live generationally, they had to train future generations of jazz musicians. Thus, the Jazz Houston Youth Orchestra was created roughly five years ago. In that short period of time, JHYO has made a name for itself nationally and sent alumni to some of the most prestigious music schools in the world, including Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, just to name a few.
The orchestra provides a comprehensive jazz experience for its participants, performing music from all eras of Jazz’s rich history and contemporary works.
Joining the Gardners is an incredible array of dedicated music professionals, mentors and supportive parents who made the trip. David Caceres (JHYO director), James Williams III (JHYO’s associate director), Jesse Espinosa (board member and Director of Bands at Klein Forest High School) and Sara Selber were front-and-center throughout the entire trip, including the months of lead up to the trip.
Board member commitment
And that’s not to mention the Jazz Houston Board of Directors, who go all out to make sure this entity and its programs are fully funded.
Then, they go the extra mile.
Board member June Deadrick, vice president of community relations for CenterPoint Energy and the first African American woman to chair a postseason collegiate bowl game in the nation (Texas Bowl 2025), sponsored the group’s welcome dinner at the prestigious Tony DiNapoli’s Times Square.
Board member Reginald Van Lee laid out all the stops, hosting the group for a meal and fellowship at his Manhattan residence.
Then there’s board chair Thomas Jones. He accompanied the group during the entire trip, from June 9 to 14.
The Defender caught up with Jones on Day 4 of the six-day adventure, while JHYO members were preparing to play at the Montclair Jazz Festival in Montclair, New Jersey.
“The last three days have been jam-packed; we’ve done tours of the Juilliard School. We did Hell’s Kitchen matinee, the Broadway show,” shared Jones. “We spent time with Wynton Marsalis at his rehearsal at Jazz at Lincoln Center. It’s just been a wonderful, wonderful trip.”
In Jazz Houston and its youth orchestra, Jones saw a perfect fit for personal support.
“My dad was a jazz enthusiast, and I grew up listening to Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. So, I’ve always had a love for the music,” said the retiree. “Then, I was introduced to Vincent and Belinda Gardner, who were trying to get a youth jazz organization off the ground in Houston. And it intrigued me because jazz is such a fundamental part of our culture, and it’s uniquely ours.”
The board’s fundraising work includes raising funds to cover JHYO’s annual summer trip. Their first trip was to NYC, and they ventured to Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. During each trip, JHYO members participate in music workshops, take college tours and perform with local youth jazz groups and some of the biggest names in jazz.
NYC trip happenings
This year, JHYO went back to NYC.
Along with the stops Jones mentioned, the group enjoyed dinner and a Show at Dizzy’s Club for the Jimmy Greene Quintet’s album release event. JHYO also enjoyed up-close seats at NYC’s Summer for the City Concert featuring Houston’s own Robert Glasper and Alain Perez at Damrosch Park.
And along with sightseeing, the group got to tour Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music.
But the centerpiece of JHYO’s trip was their opportunity to perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The group played a pre-show concert before Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performed. They also played during the intermission to a large and adoring crowd.
By the end of the trip, JHYO members were exhausted, but in a good way, from all the nonstop activities. They took with them valuable memories and more.
“My favorite part of the trip was getting to play in the Lincoln Center atrium,” said guitarist Christopher Crear, a rising sophomore. “It was super fun to play there, while also getting to go backstage and meet the greats, Wynton Marsalis and his orchestra.”
JHYO trumpet player Amari Walker also enjoyed his time in NYC.
“I appreciate Jazz Houston so much for such a wonderful experience,” said Walker, who will be a senior this fall at HSPVA. “They really made sure we absorbed so many facets of jazz music and its culture, and that we saw some cool sights.
“My favorite part of this trip had to be our experience at Lincoln Center, and the ice cream afterwards.”
