CONDUCTOR AND GUEST SOLOIST BIOS
Cedric Young, Director of Bands
Cedric V. Young currently serves as Director of Bands at Westlake High School in Atlanta, GA. Over the last 33 years, he has served as a band director at St. Jude High School (Montgomery, AL), Russell County Junior High School (Seale, AL), Benjamin Banneker High School (Atlanta), Clark Atlanta University, and Sandtown Middle School (Atlanta).
He has served as an adjudicator for symphonic and jazz bands for many school systems in the Atlanta area. He has also served as honor conductor for symphonic bands. He has also published a book, “The Progressive Sightreading Sequence.”
He is the creator and organizer of The Atlanta Drumline that has performed for numerous corporate events including performances for the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, BET, and MTV. As Director of Bands at Clark Atlanta University, the marching band was featured in the movie, Drumline, as well as other TV shows and commercials.
The honors, awards, and professional affiliations that he has amassed are numerous but include: 2020 Westlake High School Teacher of the Year, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity (Kappa Delta Chapter) as a “Friend of the Arts,” Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity. He also holds membership in the HBCU Band Director’s Consortium and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Cedric holds a BA, Music Performance and an MA, Music Ed. from Alabama State University.
Dr. Gordon Vernick, Guest Conductor and Soloist
Dr. Gordon Vernick is a Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, a Master of Music from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley.
As a professional trumpet player, he has performed in all musical mediums from symphony orchestras to jazz quartets all over the world. He is currently active as a clinician, an adjudicator, and as a freelance trumpet player.
He is a dedicated jazz educator and has served as past president of the Georgia Association of Jazz Educators and chair of the International Association of Jazz Educators Curriculum Committee. He is currently the Director of the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra and the musical director of the Rialto Jazz for Kids middle school jazz outreach program.
As the director of the GSU Faculty Jazztet he has appeared at numerous venues in the Southeast United States including the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the High Museum Jazz Series, the International Association for Jazz Education Conference, and the Jazz Education Network Conference. He has also performed with world-renowned jazz artists such as Kenny Werner, Clare Fischer, John Hart, Kevin Hays, Conrad Herwig, Marc Copland, Randy Brecker, Rez Abbasi, and many others. As a clinician/teacher, he has served residencies, given master classes, and performed at the Conservatory of San Juan, P.R., the Taipei American School in Taiwan, the Singapore American School, the Bangkok International School, The University of Northern Colorado, Columbia College Chicago, The Conservatory of Bordeaux, the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and the Royal Northern Conservatory of Manchester, U.K.
His podcasts, Jazz Insights, have been featured on numerous websites including the New York Times, and have been downloaded over 30 million times since May 2009. All 240 podcasts are available on his website (https://jazzinsightsinfo.com). His CD, The Strangest Thing, was released on Jbird Records in May 2008 and his most recent CD, Destination, was released in May 2012. He plays Schagerl trumpets and Adams flugelhorns.
Kevin Oliver Jr., Guest Soloist
Kevin Oliver, Jr. is a saxophonist from Atlanta, GA currently based in New York City. He has had opportunities to perform all over the world including during the inaugural year of NYO Jazz where he performed at Carnegie Hall and across Europe with Dianne Reeves and Sean Jones. He was a Youngarts Finalist in 2019. Since then, he has graduated from The Juilliard School where he gained insight from saxophonists Bruce Williams, Ron Blake and artistic director Wynton Marsalis. He also completed a YoungArts Mentorship with Vijay Iyer. As a sideman, Kevin has performed with Jon Batiste, Babyface, Endea Owens, Roy Hargrove Big Band and at clubs and venues such as Dizzys Club, Brooklyn Steel, DC Jazz Festival and Newport Jazz Festival. As a bandleader, Kevin regularly performs at the historic Mintons Playhouse in Harlem and has performed at jazz clubs across the US namely the Velvet Note, Goodtimes Jazz Bar.
Kevin Oliver, Jr.'s musical journey extends to his forthcoming debut album, slated for release in 2024, titled "OLIVER." Through 'OLIVER,' Kevin Oliver, Jr. extends an intimate invitation, offering audiences a musical first date—an artistic self-portrait that welcomes you into his world. The recently released single "What I Should’ve Said," a poignant reflection from this album, is currently available across streaming platforms, with physical copies accessible. Rooted in honesty and heartfelt expression, Kevin's artistic vision seeks to cultivate a sense of love and community through music.
Curtis Olawumi, Guest Soloist
Curtis Olawumi is a 2-Time Grammy Award Winning Trumpeter, Producer, and Bandleader. Born in Atlanta, Ga, he started his career performing in local clubs, performing arts centers, festivals, and touring at the age of 12. He began his professional development when he joined the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra at Georgia State University and a teen fusion group comprised of local student musicians by the name of AudioWolf under Harmony in Life Records. In 2018, He was a Downbeat Jazz Award winner for best Jazz Combo (Rialto Honors Combo).
Since then, he has worked with many artists such as J.Ivy, Sir The Baptist, Rhonda Thomas, The Black Gold Orchestra, Kebbi Williams and The Wolfpack, The Clark Sisters, Mr.Talkbox, Brian Brown, Dallas Austin, Jekalyn Carr, Kenny Lattimore and Bootsy Collins. He has produced and performed on two Grammy Award Winning Projects, The Urban Hymnal (TSU) and The Poet Who Sat By The Door (J.Ivy) and has 2 Grammy Award Wins, 3 Grammy Nominations and 1 NAACP Award Nomination.
He has toured the world a total of 5 Times as a performer and educator, performed with Jazz legends such as Wycliffe Gordon, Professor Ron Carter, and Camille Thurman. Collaborated with productions such as Drumline Live and Sesame Street, and leads two of his own Bands, The Goated Collective and The Fellas. He has performed at many events such The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, The Atlanta Jazz Festival, The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival, The Grammys, The Essence Festival and The Rose Bowl.
Curtis continues to share his gift by teaching private lessons, working with local school band camps and serving his Alma mater Westlake High School and the South Fulton community. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, a former Drum Major of the TSU Aristocrat of Bands and Graduate of Tennessee State University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Music.
In Fall 2024, he plans to peruse his Masters in Jazz Studies at a University or Conservatory. He aspires to become a professor at a University teaching Jazz Studies after his educational career.
Dr. Jeremy George, Guest Soloist
Dr. Jeremy L. George is the Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of music at Huston-Tillotson University. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida under the leadership of Dr. Julian E. White and Dr. Shelby Chipman. He received his Master’s Degree in Music Education and Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University. His major professors are Professor Rodney Jordan, Dr. Clifford Madsen and Dr. Patrick Dunnigan.
As a performer, Dr. George is a freelance bassist in the Austin area. He is the former bassist and musical director for Tallahassee Night’s Live, a highly active live entertainment guild with an ambitious performance schedule throughout the southeast region, and has shared the stage with on many nationally acclaimed Grammy Award-winning Gospel, Jazz, Hip Hop and R&B recording artists such as Ledisi, Samara Joy, Andre Hayward, Diego Rivera, Tom Browne, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Marvin Sapp, Dorothy Norwood, and Eric Roberson just to name a few. Jeremy also serves as a performing artist for many bass companies such as Anaconda Basses, DR Strings, Gallien Kruger Amps, Aguilar Pickups, and Inearz Audio. He also maintains an ambitious gig, session, and masterclass schedule at high schools in the United States.
Lavahi, Guest Soloist
LAVAHI is a scholar-artist on a mission to better society from the inside out. Through her music, scholarship, and performance, LAVAHI is building a platform to nourish the heart and mind, empathize our human experiences, and vibe together. As a daughter of jazz, the culture heavily informs her ideology and influences her sound. Acrobatic scatting, compelling chords, and the art of improvisation evoke that classic traditional aesthetic and set her contemporary sound apart from the norm of mainstream neo-soul, hip hop, and R&B. And with her satisfying blend of analog and digital sounds, LAVAHI shows that the lineage of Black sound is not linear but ever folding and stretching.
LAVAHI has been actively developing her artistry via performing, songwriting, and recording since 2010. In the process, she has worked with an eclectic range of artists and produced noteworthy collaborative projects. Her list of credits includes "Hold On," the widely successful second single release from jazz vocalist Lori Williams's 2018 studio album Out of the Box, and "Rest Assured," a feature on Hospital Records' drum and bass tribute compilation 'Med School: Graduation.' "Hold On" (featuring the legendary Tom Browne of "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)"), topped the UK Soul charts for weeks since its release, while "Rest Assured" made waves on the UK Electronic charts.
LAVAHI also produces, plays flute and piccolo, and arranges. She has added her unique sound to national and international projects in genres varying from rap to film scores to alternative. LAVAHI loves the studio and feels most natural when recording independently; but her second home is the collaborative live performance of the stage. She has been featured at venues such as Blues Alley, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Kat's Cafe, Porter-Sanford III, St. James Live!, City Winery, and more, and she has even stepped into the world of acting via musicals and stage plays.
As a scholar, LAVAHI curates an experience to critically read environment, self, and society through pop pedagogy, blending popular culture and trending topics with theoretical, historical, and philosophical foundations. One of her most popular academic works entitled "Beyoncé Reborn: Lemonade as Spiritual Enlightenment" is available to read in The Lemonade Reader: Beyoncé, Black Feminism, and Spirituality, an edited collection by Dr. Kinitra Brooks and Dr. Kameelah L. Martin. LAVAHI is also developing a series entitled "Call and Response," which invites artists to perform and use their art to engage in critical conversations with a mixed audience of the public and the academy.
Wycliffe Gordon, Guest Soloist
Wycliffe Gordon experiences an impressive career touring the world performing to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
Last year, Jazz Journalists Association named him 2022 “Trombonist of the Year” for the record-breaking 15th time, and he’s topped Downbeat Critics Poll for “Best Trombone” for an unprecedented six times (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012). Recent awards include the “Louie Award”, the International Trombone Award and the Satchmo Award, among others. Wycliffe is a prolific recording artist and is extremely popular for his unmatched signature sound, plunger technique and unique vocals. He can be heard on hundreds of recordings, soundtracks, live DVD’s and documentaries, and has an extensive catalog of original compositions that span the various timbres of jazz and chamber music. His arrangement of the theme song to NPR’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily across the globe.
In addition to a successful solo career, Gordon tours regularly leading the International All Stars performing at festivals and performing arts centers worldwide. Gordon is also one of America’s most persuasive and committed music educators and is highly sought after as a clinician and guest speaker.
Wycliffe Gordon is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has his own line of Wycliffe Gordon Pro Signature Mouthpieces by Pickett Brass. Visit www.wycliffegordon.com.
Bernard “Stix” Long Jr., Guest Soloist
Bernard Long, Jr is an award winning drummer, educator, clinician, and bandleader. Bernard Jr. graduated with his B.M. in Jazz Studies May 2009 from Northern Illinois University under the leadership of the late Professor Ron Carter. Bernard, Jr. performed in the world renowned NIU Jazz Ensemble touring with greats like ClarkTerry, Benny Golson, Rodney Whitaker, and Peter Erskine.
Bernard completed formal studies at Michigan State University M.M. Jazz Studies 2012, M.A.T. Music Education and Ed.S School Administration 2018 at Lindenwood University.
Bernard, Jr. is the band director at Madison Jr/Sr High School in Madison, IL. Bernard, Jr’s honors include:, 2018 honoree of the Salute to Excellence in Education class sponsored by the St. Louis American Foundation, 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year in the Madison CUSD#12, and 2023 Illinois State Board of Education nominee.
Bernard is an active clinician in the Percussive Arts Society, Jazz Education Network, and The Midwest Clinic. Bernard is the percussionist for The St. Louis Black Repertory Theater, the St. Louis MUNY, The Jazz St.Louis Big Band and the National Tour of Antigone in Ferguson. Bernard, Jr. plays Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drum Sticks and Ludwig Drums.
Ayana Cummings, Guest Soloist
Ayana Cummings is an alumna of Westlake High School and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Alabama State University with her Bachelors in Music Performance. She is currently a Percussion Instructor for Westlake High School Band and a music educator with Atlanta Public Schools. She is a percussionist, composer, and producer who is vigorously working to excel as
a composer in the film industry.
Sarkino Walker, Guest Conductor
Sarkino Walker, hailing from Cuba, Alabama, boasts an impressive 31-year career in the field of instrumental music education. Her accomplishments as the Director of Bands at Sandtown Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia, over a span of 20 years, exemplify her unwavering dedication and passion for teaching. Prior to assuming her current role, she served as the Director of Bands at: Creekside High School in Fairburn, GA; Sutton Middle School in Atlanta, GA; and St. Jude Catholic High School in Montgomery, AL.
Despite the lack of prior music instruction among her students, her concert and jazz bands have achieved a prominent standing among the top ensembles in Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Under the direction of Ms. Walker, the Sandtown Middle School Bands have earned distinguished awards, superior ratings, and critical acclaim. Her students have been selected for the prestigious GMEA All-State Bands and have participated in the Symphony Hall Jazz Program in Atlanta and the Rialto Jazz for Kids Program at Georgia State University. Additionally, Ms. Walker’s ensembles have performed at the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and the Original Battle of the Bands event held in Atlanta.
Ms. Walker plays the saxophone and clarinet. She is highly sought-after as a performer, guest conductor, clinician, and speaker. Sarkino has conducted workshops on fostering effective leadership collaboration within the band program, presenting at various local and state conferences.
Sarkino holds a Master of Music Education degree from the VanderCook College of Music and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Clark Atlanta University. She has received numerous honors for her exceptional dedication to cultivating a lasting passion for music among her students, including being named the 2010–2011 Sandtown Middle School Teacher of the Year and the 2000–2001 Creekside High School Teacher of the Year. Furthermore, Ms. Walker holds the notable achievement of being the first African American female high school band director in the Fulton County School District, located in Atlanta, Georgia. She is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, and Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Walker is the Summer Band Camp Coordinator for Fulton County School District and the Instrumental Music Director for Zion Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.
Adrienne J. Woods, Guest Soloist
Adrienne J. Woods, also known fondly as AJ, is a powerhouse singer-songwriter hailing from Atlanta, Georgia who has share the stage with the likes of Michael McDonald, New Kids on the Block and Mariah Carey. She seeks to enlighten and provide freedom through every lyric and melody breathed through her.
Darlene Quincy-Fuller, Guest Soloist
Darlene has been singing since the age of four years old. She grew up in church singing her mom was the lead musician at the churches where she attended for Texas. Darlene went to college on a music and band scholarship. She was major high school marching band and college she was in the marching band and choir . She also was an actress in Fort Worth music company by the name of Jubilee theater. She was featured in productions like straight no chaser, Negroes in space, & Harlem Renaissance to name a few. Darlene lives in Atlanta with her husband, Kenneth Fuller. She has 4 children and 2 that are Westlakers Paige and Austin Quincy. She also leads praise and worship at WorldChangers Church international and has been a member for 26 years.