Meet Zoya

"One thing that made me want to join the jazz band is to learn a new instrument and expand my musical knowledge. I love playing with the other people, because I feel like they're friends that are different than the ones that I make in regular classes. I feel like we've grown closer over the four years that I've been here. Jazz has presented me with so many opportunities to meet so many different people, as well as given me so much knowledge about how to play the trombone and expand that into other instruments I can play. I think I've become more confident because now I've performed in a lot more concerts and gigs that I would've if I wasn't in this jazz band. I feel like I've been able to help my entire trombone section more and more - as the one who's been in the band the longest as trombone I'm able to teach them and lead them, and I feel like that's given me experience in leadership that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else. Music is a place where I can escape and be more calm and happier, and it's with people I really like."

Zoya, Jazz Empowers Student - Central Queens Academy, Queens