Kaleb Jacks

I was born and raised in musicalhome in Columbia, Missouri. I would often return home, from elementary school,to my father practicing his saxophone. While I wouldn’t at first really knowthe implications of this early encounter, those several years growing up withmy father’s sax reverberating against the wooden walls of my small childhoodhome sparked an adventure that would influence my entire life.

I began to establish my musicalabilities in the 2nd grade in my local youth orchestra, playing thecello. I learned the very basics of music: pitch, rhythm, and teamwork. Whilemy interest in the cello would evolve into other things that first emersionwould launch my adventure. I explored the orchestra and enjoyed it for what itoffered but soon I would find myself in the middle school band, as a trumpetplayer. There I found comradery, and growth among my peers to enhance the“team” around us. Healthy competition started in the role of chairs, the needto improve, therefore, grew. While my musical abilities continued to improvethere still was something wrong about my instrument. I felt it and soondiscovered the instrument I was to play, the saxophone. I vividly remember theday I came home from school, went to my father, and asked, “Can you teach methe saxophone.” With only a simple “yes,” I still felt warmth from surprise andcomfort in his acknowledgment in my interest. What followed were hours uponhours of practice, learning how to read jazz, how to improvise and how tocreate a “voice.” From that moment onward the saxophone would take me placesthat have greatly served me on this venture.

My HighSchool experience was very special in playing with an extraordinary group ofmusicians in my jazz ensemble, many of which would go to pursue music as acareer themselves. That band would lead me to perform at the Jazz EducatorsNetwork in Atlanta, Georgia as well as the Missouri Music Educators Associationat Tan-Tara Resort in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Through High School thesaxophone just felt right, my development and understanding of music rapidlygrew along with my interest.

Whendeciding where to continue my career after a joyous High School experience Iwas at a crossroads. There were two paths available to me, one a safe careerback home in Missouri (likely a standard engineering degree) and the other inBoston, Massachusetts. My parents, who were trying their hardest to stayimpartial really left the decision to me. While researching Berklee an