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The 2014 Folsom High grad has been honored with the prestigious Jimmy Lyons scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship given to only one music student from the western United States.
Folsom High alum honored with prestigious music scholarship
Despite his youth, Emery Mesich has plenty of soul (and talent).
Mesich played the lead alto saxophone in Folsom High’s renowned jazz band. He now attends the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
“Folsom gave me the opportunity to play at some of the most distinguished high school jazz events available in the U.S.,” he said.
Mesich attributes Curtis Gaesser, the music director at Folsom High, as a major inspiration.
“He taught me professionalism and patience,” Mesich said.
Gaesser said about Mesich: “He was an extremely gifted musician, a leader, and exceptional human being. He was the best high school saxophone player in the state last year, bar none.”
Mesich has won multiple soloists awards at the Reno Jazz Festival, Monterey’s Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Charles Mingus, Essentially Ellington High School Competitions, and from Downbeat Magazine. As a high schooler, he was part of Sacramento State’s top jazz band, the Mondavi San Francisco Jazz All-stars, and led his own reggae, jazz, and R&B ensembles.
During high school, Mesich was allowed to take jazz band classes at Sacramento State due to the four-period option (taking two periods off from the regular six-period schedule) at Folsom High, which he says was important to his musical growth.
Now at Berklee, Mesich gives world-wide streaming performances and has toured Japan with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.
In five years, he sees himself touring the world and playing music.“Music has undoubtedly changed my life,” he said. “It has made me a hard-working, professional individual capable of working with others to achieve something greater than the sum of its parts.”
Mesich advises up-and-coming musicians to never give up.
“I know [music] can change lives because it has changed mine, and I have seen it change others,” he said. “Being able to express your thoughts, feelings, and emotions through this art form we call music is the greatest feeling I have ever experienced. It is ultimate freedom.”