

International Jazz Day: Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band feat. Special Guest Alumni
Join us to celebrate International Jazz Day with the Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band! Featuring Adler Blackmun, Reuben Cave, Raymond Cavlan, Ryu Cirillo, Nolan Frink, Kyle McMillan, Samuel Nicely, and Kai Thomas-Nasef, the ‘24/’25 Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band showcases some of the most talented high-school student musicians from Santa Cruz County and the Central Coast region. These young jazz ambassadors pass a rigorous audition to earn their position in the Honor Band. During weekly rehearsals, the band studies advanced jazz theory, arranging, and improvisation, all while learning valuable life skills in teamwork and critical thinking. Band-members gain vital experience performing together, culminating in this special headline performance at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center.
The Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band was founded in 1993, and in commemoration of the program’s legacy this concert will feature Special Guest Alumni from throughout the band’s history.
The Honor Band is directed by David McGillicuddy, a graduate of Aptos High, Cabrillo College, and UCSC. He has been teaching music since 1997 and his jazz guitar YouTube lessons have garnered nearly a quarter-million views. A longtime member of the Kuumbwa community, he attended his first Kuumbwa show in 1985 and became a volunteer in 1988.
Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band Website
Presented in recognition of International Jazz Day
(Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax)