Established in 2007
The El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble (EPYJE) is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded by musicians and educators Marty Olivas and Ricky Malichi in 2007. Our aim is to foster a love of jazz music in young people and to enhance the musical, theoretical, and practical education of these teenage musicians by teaching them about the many sub-genres of jazz and their stylistic traits, technique, history, performance, improvisation, aural skills, and composition, all while enriching and preserving America’s jazz heritage.
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Our Mission
EPYJE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster, develop, and educate the next generations in jazz music, along with its roots and heritage, through practice, performance, and community outreach. Our vision is to expand and create multiple ensembles to better serve the growing demand and population of the area. We currently enroll mostly high school students, but are looking into establishing a middle school jazz band, as well as individual and small group music lessons that will enrich and enhance the students' musical experience.
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Our ProgramThese talented young musicians from throughout the El Paso and surrounding areas meet to rehearse on a weekly basis. They are challenged to strive for musical excellence and experience the pride of achieving that goal through teamwork, dedication, and individual practice. A professional commitment and attitude is
expected from each participant. These students have the opportunity to work with and learn from professional jazz musicians and educators, guest artists, and sectional coaches. In turn, the EPYJE engages in community outreach that enriches the cultural foundation of the El Paso community. |
Our Students
EPYJE is a highly competitive ensemble that always has all-region and all-state student performers of the highest caliber. Less experienced players who join our ensemble advance and improve very rapidly due to being surrounded by talented and hardworking players, while being challenged with difficult and intricate music throughout the year. Students also get a real-life gigging/performing experience by playing in all types of venues around the city such as auditoriums, churches, music studios, outdoor festivals,, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars (at family-friendly events).
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Artistic Director Carlos Barba
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Carlos Barba is an active performer, composer, educator, arranger, improvisor, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has been leading EPYJE since the summer of 2022. Carlos completed his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Commercial Music and Piano Performance at The University of Texas at El Paso and is currently a full-time Guitar and Piano teacher with Ysleta Independent School District.
Carlos has recorded seven full-length albums as leader, two as sideman (Juan Pedro Macias Trio & Gabriel Balderas Quartet), two E.P./minidiscs, and two singles. The Carlos Barba Trio had the opportunity of opening for Antonio Sanchez & Migration Band in the Cd. Juarez International Jazz Festival 2019. He also shared the stage with renowned musicians Brian Lynch, Obed Calvaire, Matt Penman, and Aaron Goldberg in the Guadalajara International Jazz Festival 2017. Carlos Barba is a versatile and sought-after collaborator who is frequently involved in a variety of projects in a wide range of genres. Music by Carlos Barba and The Carlos Barba Trio can be found on all music streaming platforms. www.carlosbarbapiano.com |
Distinguished alumni
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Andres Avila is a versatile saxophonist, arranger, and performer who served as EPYJE Artistic Director from 2019-2021. Andres studied music performance and education with jazz emphasis at Texas State University. In 2014, Andres won an audition with the United States Army Bands and after basic training studied at the Army School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. He served as a Saxophonist throughout Europe as a musical ambassador to the United States of America performing with multiple ensembles . He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in December 2018, acknowledging musical arrangements produced for multiple ensembles in the USAREUR Band and Chorus including Concert Band, Brass and Woodwind Quintets, Show Band, and Dixie Band.Andres currently performs with a Latin band, The UNO Jazz Orchestra, and the Anchorage Jazz Ensemble. Andres has grown increasingly bolder and more ambitious in his explorations of modern jazz and original composition.
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Rex Novak was a founding member of the saxophone section of EPYJE from 2007-2008, the organization’s inaugural year. After graduating from Texas Tech University in 2016, Rex returned to EPYJE as Artistic Director from 2017-2019. Rex currently resides in Dallas with his wife, trombonist Joyce Hsu, and is the Head Band Director at Sunnyvale Middle School and the award winning Vale Jazz Orchestra at Sunnyvale High School.
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Amanda Ekery is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and multimedia artist . She is the founder of El Paso Jazz Girls www.epjazzgirls.com and has a variety of recorded music in the form of albums, singles, soundtracks, and multimedia projects. Amanda holds a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. She is on faculty at the New School and Fordham University, a teaching artist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, and a regular at the Cortelyou Library in Brooklyn, NY.
www.Aekerymusic.com |
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Lawrence Brown III is a drummer and vocalist who has been a part of dozens of professional recordings as a leader in his Vitruvian Project, as well as a sideman in the Carlos Barba Trio, Juan Pedro Organ Trio, Gabriel Balderas Quartet, Nu-Funk Syndicate, and many more. Lawrence is the musical director at 1st Methodist Church in El Paso Texas, an an active performer in the area. Lawrence graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso and has done extensive work for Dancing Dots, a braille music company based in Philadelphia.
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Dr. Christian Chesanek is a bassist, composer, arranger, educator, freelance musician, and luthier in the El Paso, Texas region. Dr. Chesanek’s previous education consists of a Commercial music degree from the University of Texas at El Paso under Erik Unsworth, a MM in Double bass performance from Ithaca College under Nicholas Walker, and a DMA in Jazz studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln under Dr. Hans Sturm. He has worked with internationally acclaimed artists such as Francois Rabbath, Mark Dresser, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Hakon Thelin, Victor Lewis, Donny McCaslin, Joel Quarrington, and Lynn Seaton. Dr. Chesanek is currently an educator in the El Paso Independent School district as a 5th grade orchestra instructor.
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Emilio Mesa is an active artist in the Denton and Dallas / Fort Worth areas, pushing creative boundaries and reaching out to his audiences through his organic approach to saxophone and composition. Mesa is an alumnus of the prestigious University of North Texas (UNT), where he completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, studied with Brad Leali, and performed/recorded with the Two O’Clock Lab Band. While leading his "Constructed Reality” project, a genre-defying ensemble that seeks inspiration from the beauty of the world in which we live, Mesa also co-leads Imposter, an avant-garde voice/sax/guitar trio, and Nothing Machine, an avant-garde saxophone trio. Mesa performs regularly in other group configurations and settings, including the dream-pop band, Lorelei K, and the high-adrenaline, progressive-fusion group, Sky Window. Mesa’s debut album as a leader, Constructed Reality, was released in 2019 and can be found on all streaming platforms.
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Eric Howell is a bassist, composer, arranger, educator, and producer currently residing in El Paso, Texas. Eric studied commercial music at The University of Texas at El Paso and completed his master's in Music Composition at The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He released his debut solo album Love and Other Vulgar Things on 2021, and is currently working on his second full-length album. Eric currently teaches with the Ysleta Independent School District and performs in a variety of groups around the El Paso area.
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Carlos Pacheco is a phenomenal saxophonist and talented multi-instrumentalist from Cd. Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico. Carlos studied music performance at the University of North Texas. He is an active performer in the El Paso area and has recorded in a variety of projects. Besides being a talented freelance performer, Carlos and his wife Jacqueline James own The Brewhouse Photography Studio and West Sycamore Films, a multimedia company for video and photography. Carlos also volunteers and helps EPYJE by documenting their performances and taking their group photos.
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board of directors
VICTOR SALAS
Chairman & EPYJE Administrative Director
[email protected]
FERNIE A. ACEVES
Treasurer
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VACANT
Secretary & Fundraising Director
ROSE BEARD
Fundraising Co-Director
[email protected]
VICTOR M. SALAS
Publicity
[email protected]