What is PYJO?

The Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra has trained musicians from the Portland Metro Area since 2001. Many alumni have attend prestigious music schools across the country on scholarship. Many have continued in music or music education.

PYJO brings young musicians together to rehearse, study, and perform the American art form of Jazz. Students from Portland and the surrounding areas (as far as North Salem, Battleground, WA, Forest Grove, & East of Gresham) meet once a week in Downtown Tigard at the M.U.S.E. Performance Center. Easy access to Trimet at the Tigard Transit center. WES service.

There are 5 PYJO bands of different levels and age groups. During the school year, sessions are 8-11 weeks long. In the summer, week-long sessions are offered. Each band performs at least one concert per session in a public setting. All students are encouraged to play at least one solo, most perform improvised solos.

Band members are responsible for preparing /practicing their music and their solos, they should seek out recordings of the music we are working on and spend time listening to it. They are also responsible for making it to the gig on time and communicating with the directors when conflicts arise with rehearsals or performances.

PYJO challenges up-and-coming musicians. Fast-paced rehearsals are packed with improvisation methods, music theory, exercises in all keys, rhythmic training, improving sightreading, listening, composition, and preparation of songs & solos for upcoming performances.  Students are expected to practice outside of class and are given tools to make practice more fun and effective.

Teacher education is a high priority for us. Clinics are available to local schools and student leaders are given opportunities to lead sectionals and work with younger students. Exceptional students who display traits of future educators are encouraged to become student directors in younger bands.

PYJO is fun! Rehearsals move fast and boggle the brain; but are always full of laughs. The Medlers have a great connection with their students. Getting results with positive energy.

PYJO thinks LOCAL. Concerts are performed mainly in Portland area venues and music festivals. Occasionally performances are held in other Northwest cities, but are planned well in advance. A world class Jazz education is available right here in Portland, OR! PYJO believes the ‘language of Jazz’ can be passed down to young musicians through strong classroom education and through local performances embellished with guest artists, guest bands, or clinicians.

PYJO has worked with Artists: Bobby Shew - Lead Trumpet extraordinaire (Buddy Rich, Bob Florence Bands etc), Scott Whitfield - trombonist/arranger, Terrell Stafford - Trumpet/educator with Essentially Ellington Program, Derrick Tabb-Snare Drum Rebirth Brass Band, Carl Sauders-trumpet, Jeff Cumpston -late director of West Linn HS, Charley Gray - PSU Jazz Studies, Susie Jones - Mt Hood Community College Jazz Program, Rich Cooper - Lead trumpet specialist, Tall Jazz, Dave Mills - arranger / trumpet / Jazz Studies at Clackamas Community College, Brian Ward - piano and Jazz Studies at PSU, Bryant Allard -director of MUSE and many of Portland’s finest Jazz musicians.

PYJO GIVES Back Student teacher program - School Outreach programs - Performance Experiences raise money for scholarship programs. Students are encouraged to teach, share, and pass on what they have learned to younger musicians in our program or in their communities. Experienced players are often asked to perform in small groups for gigs around the city:
Portland Jazz Festival events, private parties, corporate events, school fundraisers, community events etc.

PYJO alumni have attended: Berklee College of Music, Oberlin College Conservatory, Portland State University, William Patterson, University of North Texas, Univ of Oregon, Julliard, Univ. of Washington, Lawrence Conservatory, USC, New England Conservatory, Oregon State University, The New School, Harvard, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music @ U. Indiana, US Army ROTC, Mt Hood Community College, The Grammy Band, to name a few.

Alumni -Beyond college with careers in Music include:
Andrew Oliver (Piano, Trumpet, Cora, Drums)- traveling the world with his many bands / host of kmhd radio / established composer
John Nastos (saxophones, flute, clarinet)- very active in Portland's music scene as a musician and in web building/marketing
Ben Darwish (Piano) - bandleader / composer / event promoter
Tim Archer - settled into a career as a studio bass player / performer in Los Angles after attending USC
Ben Kelly (Trumpet) - music educator after finishing degree at U. North Texas (and sitting in the One O’Clock band)
Alex Rodriguez (Trombone) - writing articles for wiki-jazz after traveling to Brazil for trombonanza for several years
John Storie (Guitar) - traveling with Guitar West
Eric Allen (Trumpet, Cello) - is a successful composer, arranger, bandleader, & cellist
Bryan Smith (Alto Sax)- working on a masters in music at U of W
Active freelance musicians: Nick Sweet (Trombone), Reid Neuman (Tenor Sax), Matt Tabor (Piano), Ryan Cheng (Alto Sax), Mitch Wilson (drums) Brandon Tabbal (trombone) Steve O’Neill (Alto Sax) - also finished music degree at PSU working on getting into medical school, Michael Galen (Drums) - also professional dancer/instructor (especially break dancing)

Other Alumni are teaching, working in other careers and still performing when they can. Many are no longer playing, but are educated audience members supporting art in the communities they live in. Not everyone is meant to take on the music business as a career. Those who study Jazz music (even just for a chapter of their life) putting their hearts, souls, and discipline into the art form will reap many life benefits.

Ideas on Getting Scholarships to college
Serious expenses are involved with a 20-piece-student-jazz-band traveling around the country to participate in festivals. Travel expenses are usually paid by parents/students and/or through fundraising efforts. The most serious members of the band are featured. These students hang on the edge of their seat hoping to be the one to win a scholarship to the school organizing the festival. Many receive wonderful scholarships this way! Most go the traditional route of applying to schools. Researching the schools that match their needs and following the audition requirements. (e.g. by video/ audio recording or live audition at the school or at a regional search)The cost (to the student) of traveling to band festivals can be put towards other methods of obtaining music scholarships:
~Video and audio recordings of PYJO concerts can be made by parents, professionals who are hired to document the show,
or from the directors when available. These can be submitted to colleges for scholarship screening or posted on YouTube if appropriate.
~Students can get help arranging time in a professional recording studio with professionals backing them (when allowed-usually OK for scholarship submissions).
~Student plans college visitation trips and live auditions with parents.
~Letters of recommendation and support from the directors.

The Medlers, husband and wife, have been involved in Portland, Oregon’s music scene since the mid-1990’s. Together they have run the Ben Medler Big Band 1994-97, directed, as artists in residence, an award-winning band program at Wilson High School 1994-2001; obtained Performance degrees in Jazz studies from Portland State University in 2001; Both are active performers, composers, arrangers, & bandleaders in various bands of all styles of music. Ben teaches Jazz combos and Jazz Trombone at Portland State University. Michelle has a lesson studio where she teaches saxophone, flute, & clarinet and is a part of The Quadraphonnes sax quartet. The Medlers offer clinics to school bands around the region. Both are dedicated to Jazz education. More...