Charles Wright Senior Performs on "New Day Northwest"

Seattle, Wash. – Charles Wright Academy senior Isaac Roberts ’14 performed with fellow members of esteemed youth jazz ensemble Seattle JazzED on KING5’s New Day on Monday, May 12, and also appeared in an interview with renowned jazz musician Clarence Acox to discuss the success they have been able to accomplish with help from local performing arts organization ArtsFund.

The episode represented a partnership between New Day and ArtsFund to present an entire hour of arts and cultural programming. In addition to Seattle JazzED, Spectrum Dance Theater, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Wing Luke Museum, and On the Boards were also represented in various segments. Seattle JazzED works with local students of all skill levels and backgrounds in grades four through 12 to realize their full potential through music education. They serve more than 250 children from more than 60 schools in various programs.

Isaac played saxophone with five other Seattle JazzED students during their segment. He became involved with the organization last year after representatives visited CWA’s jazz band, and he said that participating in their summer program Seattle Jazz Ambassadors was transformative. “It pretty much changed the whole way I look at jazz music as well as the way I saw my own sax playing,” he explained. “Jazz is definitely my favorite genre to play because with jazz, I feel like I believe in the music more easily, which allows me to be much more expressive and ultimately have more fun. A mistake is a mistake in most music, but in jazz, you can play it off like you meant to do it.”

Isaac was also this year’s recipient of Charles Wright Academy’s Vincent Petersen Music Award in the instrumental category, which is awarded annually to the musician who has contributed to the musical program of the school and shows a great deal of potential for future growth. While Isaac is not planning on majoring in music, he is looking forward to continuing his music education while a student at Claremont McKenna College.

You can watch Isaac's performance here.