YLJC Student Taichi Okumura Wins International Golden Classical Music Award!
We are proud to announce that 12-year-old conservatory student Taichi Okumura has been awarded first prize in the prestigious International Golden Classical Music contest and has been invited to...
New Soil Ensemble to Play at Monterey Jazz Fest!
We are thrilled to announce that our New Soil Ensemble, led by Gilbert Castellanos, has been selected to perform at the Monterey Jazz Fest this September! They are only one of two ensembles selected...
DownBeat Magazine Honors Nick Caldwell!
A HUGE congratulations to Nick Caldwell, a 13-year-old sax player in our program. He won DownBeat Magazine's award for Junior High School Honors Outstanding Performance, Tenor Saxophone! We are all...
In the News:Monterey Jazz Festival shines the spotlight on San Diego talent
From April 5 to April 7, 2019, our "New Soil Ensemble" directed by Gilbert Castellanos competed at the Next Gen Jazz Festival in Monterey. This competitive, audition-only festival brings out the...
Vote!Young Lions Jazz Conservatory Nominated for Best Music School in San Diego!
Vote for for Young Lions Jazz Conservatory for Best Music School in San Diego! Follow link to vote: https://bit.ly/2x9rryW Thank you San Diego CityBeat for the nomination!
In the News: Care and Feeding of Young Lions in SD Reader
Thank you writer Robert Bush for your great feature in this week’s San Diego Reader about Young Lions Jazz Conservatory! Wonderful article with interviews with Artistic Director Gilbert Castellanos and several of our students.
J&J Realty Scholarship: Janet and JoyLynn Offer a Full Scholarship to a Deserving Young Lion
J&J Realty contributed $1,000 and we raised an additional $1,100.00 from generous community members. The total amount of $2,100 will cover tuition and private instruction for a young musician who would otherwise be unable to join YLJC.
2017 Impact Report: See the Impact of YOUR Donations on YLJC
Young Lions Jazz Conservatory is pleased to provide you with our first ever impact report. The impact of your generosity and support over the span of just under five months has been remarkable, and we can’t thank you enough for making so much possible for our kids. Together, we are making a difference in young lives.
In the News: Instructor Rob Thorsen Featured in San Diego Troubadour Magazine
This month power couple Rob Thorsen (YLJC Instructor) and Steph Johnson appear on the cover of San Diego Troubadour. They discuss their home, their life together as working musicians, their musical up-bringing, and their work with the homeless choir. A truly inspiring read!
San Diego Music Awards:Gilbert Castellanos Nominated for Artist of the Year!
Congratulations Young Lions Jazz Conservatory Artistic Director Gilbert Castellanos on your nomination for “Artist of the Year” from the San Diego Music Awards!
In the News: John Murray Featured in The Reader!
We are proud of our thirteen-year-old bassist John Murray for being featured in The San Diego Reader this week! This incredibly talented young man explains his musical beginnings, the opportunities he has at Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, and his musical aspirations.
Partnership: YLJC Teams Up with Theatre Arts School of San Diego for a Performance!
Students of Young Lions Jazz Conservatory partnered with the young actors of Theatre Art School of San Diego on a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream. The production was set in the roaring twenties and featured jazz music from our conservatory students, tumblers from May Acro and Dance and a cast of incredible young actors.