Jazzer Alumni

Sophia Yu - flute

My name is Sophia Yu and I’m a senior at Liberty High School. I play the flute in YJI, and in my free time, I love to hangout with my friends, play pickleball, and watch movies.

Valerie Chew - percussion

My name is Valerie Chew, and I play the drum set in YJI. I’m a senior at Lebanon Trail High School, and some things I enjoy are watching films, listening to music, and writing short stories.

Andrew Gheno - tenor saxaphone

My name is Andrew Gheno and I play the tenor saxophone in YJI. I’m a senior at Lebanon Trail High School and I enjoy playing music. I’ve played lead tenor in the Collin college all star jazz concert during 2023 and studied music for 11 years.

Matthew Scott - piano

My name is Matthew Scott and I play the piano. I am a senior in high school, and I like collaborating with many other musicians. Jazz is a great way to explore new ideas. I like solving puzzles and I was recently named a Young Steinway Artist.

Lucas Yeh - violin

Lucas Yeh, currently a student at Case Western Reserve University, is pursuing neuroscience on the pre-med track. While his academic interests lie in science, music has been an integral part of his life. He began with classical training, earning concertmaster positions in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and All-Region Orchestra, grand prizes in TexASTA, the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra Young Musicians Concerto Competition, and the Dallas Symphonic Festival, as well as prizes in the Juanita Miller and Collin County Young Artist competitions, ultimately culminating in being named a YoungArts National Winner. He has also had the opportunity to study and receive lessons and masterclasses with James Ehnes, Cho-Liang Lin, Andrés Cárdenes, and Jan Sloman. He later developed an interest in jazz after listening to favorites such as Frank Sinatra, Carlos Jobim, and Laufey, which inspired him to explore the genre more deeply. Outside of music, Lucas enjoys fitness, volunteering at the Cleveland Clinic, and spending time with friends and family.

Zachary Couvillon - double bass

My name is Zachary Couvillon and I am an 8th grader at Haggard Middle School. I play double bass in the Haggard Chamber Orchestra and the Haggard Jazz Band. When I'm not playing music, I can usually be found building robots and programming. I will be attending Jesuit College Preparatory in the Fall 2024.

Kailey Chen - double bass

Hi, my name is Kailey Chen, and I play double bass in YJI. I’m currently a senior at Allen High School, and am a member of the Children’s Chorus of Collin County. When I’m not doing anything with music, you can find me reading books, folding origami, or writing poetry.

Matthew Gheno - cello

Hi, I’m Matthew Gheno, and I play the Cello in YJI. Similarly to Andrew, I also play piano and have studied music for eight years. I’m an Eighth Grader at Fowler Middle School and I love to try new things with friends and meet new people. In my free time, I like to learn random skills such as juggling, balisong tricks, art, and cooking. I also enjoy doing physical activities such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Rock Climbing