About
Background
Harry is an alto saxophonist based in Denver, Colorado, and a graduate of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where he earned a B.A. in Global Jazz Studies with a 3.83 GPA. At UCLA, he performed across a range of ensembles including the Jazz Orchestra, Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, and studied privately with saxophonists Mark Turner, Azar Lawrence, Justo Almario, and Paul Carr. He also participated in educational outreach programs, gaining early exposure to the communicative side of music. Those years gave him not only a rigorous musical education, but a deep appreciation for jazz as a living tradition that rewards both discipline and creative risk.
Teaching Philosophy
Harry's teaching centers on jazz improvisation: helping students develop the vocabulary, ears, and musical instincts needed to express themselves freely within the jazz idiom. His approach draws on the fundamentals of jazz language: learning and internalizing melodic phrases and patterns, understanding harmony and chord-scale relationships, developing a strong rhythmic feel, and building the kind of active listening that makes real improvisation possible. Lessons are structured and progressive, but always oriented toward the creative goal of helping each student find their own voice. Whether a student is new to jazz or looking to break through a plateau in their playing, lessons are open to all levels.
Credentials & Affiliations
- B.A., Global Jazz Studies, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, 2025 — GPA: 3.83
- Private Saxophone Study: Mark Turner, Azar Lawrence, Justo Almario, Paul Carr
- Ensemble Experience: Jazz Orchestra, Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Contemporary Jazz Ensemble (UCLA)
- Paul Carr Jazz Academy & Summer Camp — Student and Volunteer
- Montgomery County Honors Jazz Band — Selected via competitive audition
- Tri-M National Music Honor Society — Montgomery Blair High School