Newark Youth Jazz Star Earns ‘Musician of Distinction’ Award

Newark, NJ – New Jersey-based nonprofit Jazz House Kids recently announced that Rayner Perez, an eighth grader at Abington Avenue School in Newark, was awarded the 2016 Jazz House Kids Musician of Distinction Award.

According to a news release, Rayner is a trombonist in the Jazz House Kids’ Dynasty Big Band and participates in the Jazz House Music Club at his school.

The annual award honors the “budding talents” of emerging musicians ages 13 to 18. Every year, the Jazz House Kids Musician of Distinction Award is granted to two young musicians who participate in either the Jazz House Kids Music Club in-school programs or at the Jazz House in downtown Montclair.

This merit and need-based award is given to an outstanding emerging musician who “demonstrates leadership, musicianship, creativity and dedication to excellence,” Jazz House Kids states.

Rayner and his fellow honoree, Xavier Kuzin, a senior at Montclair High School, received new, professional-level musical instruments from RS Berkeley Musical Instruments, along with a year of mentoring from a Jazz House Kids professional musician.

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Photo: Jazz House Kids