About YJED (Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage)

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The Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage (YJED) was founded by current director Robert Blazek in 1998 to provide the top high school jazz musicians in the 20+ high schools in DuPage County and surrounding areas the opportunity to perform high-level jazz music literature in concert and in an annual studio recording.

 

Since its founding in 1998, YJED members have had the privilege playing for highly prestigious events and with a number of jazz greats.  Some highlights include:

• Multiple invitations to participate in the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City, including selection as the winner of the “Conglomerate Division” and selection as a finalist (receiving "Honorable Mention" status) in different years.

• Performed with Gordon Goodwin at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

• Performed with Terell Stafford at the Illinois Music Educators Association Convention

• Performed and recorded with other jazz pros including Roger Ingram, Victor Goines, Wycliffe Gordon, Orbert Davis, Steve Weist, Clay Jenkins, Mark Colby, Rob Parton, and Bob Lark.

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Auditions are held in October for membership in YJED, to identify band members who can perform challenging professional-level jazz music literature at a high level. The band rehearses weekly to prepare music for two concerts, a studio recording session, and other performance opportunities. Through the year, they will also work with respected jazz performers and clinicians in rehearsal and performance. 

 

By the end of the year, they will have grown musically as they have been challenged to rise up to the level of difficult and important jazz literature, other top high school jazz musicians, and jazz pros they performed with.  And in doing so, YJED not only supports the high-school musician, but also their high school (which benefits from their growth) and the jazz community (with the potential next generation of players and jazz enthusiasts).