If you are a former band member, please contact us and let us know how you’re doing, where you are, and any other info you want to share.
The Original Denver Jazz Club Youth All Stars (2009 - 2010) Top (l-r): Matt Darling, Alex Brack, George Darling; Bottom(l-r): Armando Lopez, Rebbecca Lugg, Ray Nesbit, Alex DeVillier, Molly Sauer
Alex Brack
Alex Brack
– Tuba
Alex Brack is one of the original members of the Youth All Stars, joining the band in January, 2010. Alex was in the Fairview High School marching band for 4 years and was captain of the tuba section for 2 years. He has played tuba in the FHS Wind Ensemble for three years. He has been in the top Fairview jazz band for 3 years, two of which he was the principal player. He performed in the 2009 Mile High Jazz Festival All Star Band. Alex has received outstanding musicianship awards from the Mile High Jazz Festival. He has performed in ensembles which have received perfect judges scores at the UNC-Greeley, Mile High, and Skyline Jazz Festivals. Alex has studied with Will Scharen and Bill Clark. He is currently studying to be a chef.
Matt Darling
Matt Darling
– Clarinet / Tuba
Matt is one of the original members of the Youth All-Stars, joining the band on tuba in October of 2009. He later switched to tenor sax, followed by a change to clarinet in March of 2010. Matt was been a member of his HS marching band for all 4 years. He also played in the wind ensemble and the top jazz band. Matt has been a member of the Colorado Clarinet Choir and Arapahoe Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He was selected to All State Band during his HS junior year. Matt received numerous superior awards in the Annual Solo and Ensemble Music Festival. He has studied with Mary Nichols. Matt is currently majoring in clarinet performance at the University of British Columbia.
Armando Lopez
Armando Lopez
– Tenor Sax / Clarinet
Armando is one of the founding members of the Youth All-Stars, playing clarinet until March 2010, when he switched to tenor saxophone. Armando performed in marching ensembles at three different high schools, marching alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, and conducting the Eaglecrest High School Pride of the Plains Band as their drum major. While playing with the North Hollywood High School jazz combo as a freshman, Armando was chosen to be one of three high school musicians to perform with saxophonist Eric Alexander, and Grammy Recording Artist and jazz pianst, Billy Childs. He has also performed at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Dazzle’s Jazz Club (Denver), and at the prestigious Jazz Bakery (Los Angeles). Armando has received numerous accolades for his musicianship, including several soloist awards, and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award at Eaglecrest High School. He was chosen as a Festival Apprentice for the 2010 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, in which he performed with the Big Mama Sue Trio. Armando has studied with Lance Acker. He was a member of the UC Denver Claim Jumpers during the 2010-11 school year.
Ray Nesbit
Ray Nesbit
Drums
Ray is the original drummer of the Youth All Stars, joining the band in November of 2009. Ray has performed with his HS marching band drumline for 4 years and played drumset for the jazz bands, competitive choir, orchestras, and school musicals. He was also a percussionist in their Wind Ensemble. Ray was a percussionist with the Colorado Honor Band Association, and played drumset with their jazz bands. He also played drumset with the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts in both their small bands and latin jazz band. Ray has performed live on KUVO radio, at the 2009 Mi Casa Annual Fundraiser, the 2008 Denver release party of the USPS Latin Jazz stamp, and in various clubs around Denver. He has been awarded outstanding musicianship awards from various music festivals, including two solo awards from the Greeley Jazz Festival. Ray was honored with the Miles Davis Award and the Louis Armstrong award. He was named a Festival Apprentice for the 2010 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, in which he played with Bob Draga, Jason Wanner, Steve Homan, Lenny Pollacchi, and Ron Jones. Ray has studied with Kevin Lehman, Keith Ewer, Eric Trujillo, Paul Romaine, and Dr. Marcus Reddick. He currently plays with the CU Denver Claim Jumpers.
2010-11 DJC Youth All-Stars: Daniel Mullan, Clarinet/Alto Sax/Vocals; Rebecca Lugg, Piano/Vocals; Molly Sauer, Cornet/Vocals; George Darling, Trombone; Kyle Meienberg, Tuba; Ian Levy, Tenor Sax/Clarinet/Vocals; Alex DeVillier, Banjo; and Bobby Ferguson, Drums
Molly Sauer
Molly Sauer
- Cornet
Molly joined the Youth All-Stars in January 2010. She has been playing trumpet/cornet for nine years. Molly played in the marching band, jazz band, and wind ensemble at Fairview HS. She was a member of the 2011 Colorado All State Jazz and Concert Bands. Molly has been awarded musicianship awards at the Mile High, UNC-Greeley, and Skyline Jazz Festivals. She has studied with Dawn Kramer and John Lake. Molly was selected as a 2011 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee Next Generation All-Star. She is currently attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
Dan Mullen
Daniel Mullan
- Clarinet/Alto Sax/Vocals
Daniel joined the band in July, 2010. He was in the top concert ensemble at Smoky Hill HS. Daniel was also a member of Smoky’s Jazz Band and top Concert Choir. He was in the school jazz combo that played throughout the city. Daniel has played in a Boulder saxophone quartet. In 2009, he received the C.U. Outstanding Musician Award. Daniel was selected to the 2011 University of Colorado Honor Band. He has studied with Lance Acker. Daniel is currently majoring in music performance at C.U.
George Darling
George Darling
- Trombone
George was one of the original members of the Youth All-Stars, joining the band in October, 2009. He played in the wind ensemble, jazz band, marching band, and pit orchestra at Arapahoe HS. George performed in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Sacramento Jazz Jubilees, and the 2009 London Parade. He has been awarded outstanding musicianship and soloist awards at the Mile High and UNC-Greeley Jazz Festivals. George has studied with Eric Staffeldt. At C.U., he is currently majoring in mechanical engineering and playing in Jazz III.
Kyle Meienberg
Kyle Meienberg
- Tuba
Kyle joined the Youth All-Stars in July of 2010. He played tuba in the Chatfield HS Marching Band and Wind Ensemble for four years. Kyle has also played trombone in Chatfield’s jazz band for three years. He has played for the Jefferson County Honor Band, the Colorado Honor Band Association, and was selected as first alternate for the prestigious Colorado All-State Band. Kyle was selected to perform in the 2011 University of Colorado Honor Band. He has studied with Bill Clark. At C.U., Kyle is currently majoring in Physics and playing in Jazz III.
Ian Levy
Ian Levy
- Tenor Sax
Ian joined the Youth All-Stars in August 2010. He has played saxophone, clarinet and flute for six years. Ian plays tenor sax in Jazz Band A, and clarinet in Wind Ensemble at Cherry Creek HS. He has performed at the Cherry Blossom Festival with his private teacher Lance Acker. Ian enjoys playing in jam sessions at Dazzle Jazz Club from time to time. He is currently a junior at Cherry Creek HS.
Rebecca Lugg
Rebecca Lugg
- Piano
Rebecca was one of the original members of the Youth All-Stars, joining the band in October of 2009. Rebecca played piano in the pit orchestra for the Cheyenne Little Theater for two years. She has also accompanied the All City Children’s Choir in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Rebecca also enjoys Celtic and Swing music on violin, and has attended numerous camps and workshops, including the Colorado Roots Music Camp, and the Swannanoa Gathering. In July of 2010, she performed at the Cheyenne Celtic Festival with a band she created, The Exiles of Erin. Rebecca was selected to the Wyoming All State Orchestra as a 1st violinist for three years. She has been a classical piano major at the Lamont School of Music Pre-College Academy. Rebecca got her start on piano at the age of six, using the Suzuki method. Her first piano teacher, who nurtured her love of music, was Jill Laping of Cheyenne, Wyoming. She has studied jazz piano with Ray Leake, who plays for Your Father’s Mustache Band. Rebecca was awarded the Big Tiny Little Memorial Scholarship at the 2011 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. She is currently residing in Georgia and plans on studying music in college next year.
Bobby Ferguson
Bobby Ferguson
- Drums
Bobby joined the band in November, 2010. He has played drum set and percussion for eight years, performing with concert/symphonic bands, choirs, jazz bands, pit orchestras, drum lines, wind ensembles, jazz combos and orchestras. Bobby was a member of the Cherry Creek School District Honor Band for 6 years. He was their first chair percussionist in 2008. Bobby was the section leader of his high school drum line in 2010 when the Smoky Hill Marching Band was awarded the “Most Improved Band” at the Colorado State Marching Band Championships. He repeated as section leader in 2011. Bobby was selected to perform in the 2011 University of Colorado Honor Band. He is currently performing in the Blue Knights Winter Percussion Ensemble, and is a senior at Smoky Hill HS.
If you are a former band member, please contact us and let us know how you’re doing, where you are, and any other info you want to share.
