Mt. Tabor Middle School Jazz Artist in Residency

Program Description

Montavilla Jazz continues its partnership with Mt. Tabor Middle School to revitalize and sustain the school’s jazz education program, bringing resources, funding, and professional expertise to ensure its long-term success.

Resident Artist Quinn Walker will return to share his professional experience through weekly visits to Mt. Tabor’s beginning, intermediate, and advanced band classes throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms of the 2025–26 school year.

This program is funded in part by grants from The Autzen Foundation and the Randall Charitable Trust, and supported by the generosity of community partners and donors.

Objectives

Introduce students to the instrumental performance practices, cultural context, and historical significance of jazz.
Prepare Mt. Tabor Middle School musicians for high-school-level jazz and band opportunities, ensuring they are on par with peers across the district.

Who benefits?

The Montavilla Jazz Artist-in-Residence and After-School Jazz Band Club give all band students opportunities to expand their musicianship, creativity, and understanding of jazz as a uniquely American art form.

Students gain hands-on experience with ensemble performance and improvisation, while learning how jazz traditions continue to shape contemporary music.

The community benefits through student performances that celebrate local youth talent and highlight the vitality of Mt. Tabor’s music program. Past ensembles have performed at events such as the annual Mt. Tabor PTA fundraiser and other neighborhood gatherings.

The community benefits from having jazz band performances that showcase the talents of Mt. Tabor Middle School students. In years past, the jazz band has performed at numerous community events, including the annual Mt. Tabor PTA fundraiser.

What’s different?

This enhanced program includes:

Weekly in-class instruction by a professional resident artist
Expanded access for all MTMS band students
Guest artist visits drawn from the Montavilla Jazz Festival roster
Increased support for the band director
Equitable artist pay and funding for materials, special events, and performances
Reduced tuition for students through community and grant support

Together, these improvements ensure that the Mt. Tabor Jazz Program remains inclusive, sustainable, and artistically enriching for every participant.

What’s possible?

A thriving partnership between Montavilla Jazz and Mt. Tabor Middle School allows students to develop confidence, teamwork, and creative expression while deepening their appreciation for jazz—America’s indigenous art form.

As the program grows, students will have opportunities to perform in regional jazz festivals and potentially appear on stages at the Montavilla Jazz Festival itself.

This continuing residency serves as a model for scalable jazz education, demonstrating how community investment and artist partnerships can bring lasting impact to Portland-area schools.

MTMS After School Jazz Band Registration Form

In coordination with the Mt. Tabor Middle School band program, Montavilla Jazz is excited to continue the After School Jazz Band for the 2025–26 school year! Rehearsals will begin in November 2025 and take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00–5:00 p.m. in the Mt. Tabor Middle School band room (Room 131). The After School Jazz Band is open to all MTMS band students who are eager to explore jazz performance in a fun and supportive ensemble setting. Students are expected to have basic proficiency on their instrument (one year of experience is recommended but not required) and should be prepared to practice outside of rehearsals.

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STUDENT INFORMATION

Name*

First Last

Phone*

Email*

Grade*

Band Class*

Instrument(s)*

Jazz band instrumentation includes (but is not limited to): alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet (or cornet), trombone, baritone, tuba, flute, clarinet, guitar, electric bass, piano, drum set, percussion, voice. Other instruments may be accepted with instructor approval. NOTE: Hold "command" or "ctrl" to multi-select.

Playing Experience*

What is your overall playing experience on the instrument(s) selected above? If you selected multiple instruments, select the playing experience that correlates to the one you've played the longest.

PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION

Name*

First Last

Phone*

Email*

Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

After School Jazz Band Class Fee*

Fall, Winter and Spring Semesters for the 2025-26 School Year Cost $180** per student.

2025-26 School Year - $180.00

Processing Fee

4% processing fee covers the cost of merchant services and credit card processing.

Total

Credit Card

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Meet Director Quinn Walker

Quinn Walker is a Seattle-born, Portland-based trumpet player, composer, arranger and educator. Walker has become an important part of the jazz scenes in Portland, while receiving his Bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Portland State University, and in Eugene while receiving his Masters degree in jazz studies from the University of Oregon. Walker has performed with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, Randy Porter, George Colligan, and many other Portland Jazz icons; he is also the main trumpeter in local Portland bands Conjunto Alegre, Pura Vida, Barrio Metstizo, and The Krebsic Orkestar. In addition to playing and arranging/composing Walker teaches jazz band at Prairie High School, is the jazz area program assistant at Grant High School, and runs a private trumpet lesson studio.