Under the leadership of Dr. John Calloway, the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco has served as an invaluable proving ground for creatively ambitious young musicians since 2001. Living up to vaunted expectations set by the ensemble’s alumni, these high school players collaborate with legends like Armando Peraza, Jerry Gonzalez and John Santos. They also write and arrange their own material, tunes documented on highly regarded recordings (most recently Con Mis Manos). While LJYE graduate Daniel Riera fronts San Francisco’s exciting band Soltron, other alumni such as trombonist Natalie Cressman, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, pianist Samora Pinderhughes, and drummer Charlie Ferguson, are tearing up the New York music scene.

LJYE is the resident youth company of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.