KOSTA BRUNSON
trombone

The Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame: Elsa Heisel Sule Jazz Studies Scholarship

KOSTA has been playing the trombone since the age of 11. He started Jazz specifically when he entered high school. At Oak Hills he participated in jazz band, wind ensemble and a full orchestra.

Outside of school Kosta has performed in the Tri-State ensembles trombone choir and jazz combo groups. He also performed with the District 14 Honor Band and CCM prep Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. Along with these he also participated in CCM preps Cincinnati Youth Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Combo.

Kosta was a member of the Jazz at Dusk combo and also was selected for the Ohio All State Jazz Band. 

LUCAS CAMPBELL
baritone saxophone

The Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame: Elsa Heisel Sule Jazz Studies Scholarship

LUCAS graduated in 2023 from Finneytown High School. He has been playing saxophone since he first joined his school’s concert band in fifth grade, and began studying jazz as he entered high school.

Lucas has been regularly attending various jam sessions since he was in 9th grade, as well as participating in his school’s marching band until his senior year. In 11th grade, he began participating in the CCM Youth Jazz Orchestra and the CCM High School Jazz Combo, both of which he continued to participate in through his senior year. He started attending Jazz at Dusk sessions around that same time, playing at Caffe Vivace, Lytle Park Hotel, Latitudes, and Oriental Wok. These gave him the valuable opportunity to get gigging experience while still in high school.

In addition to playing the saxophone, Lucas is a composer, having had original tunes played by the Jazz at Dusk combo and the CCM High School Jazz Combo. Outside of music, he spends his free time trying to learn as much as he can about a number of different subjects and reading novels.

Lucas is very grateful for the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame scholarship, and hopes that in his time at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music he will be able to improve his own skills on the saxophone and compositionally and be able to learn more about the role music has played and still plays in societies around the world.

AARON COFFENBERRY
drums

The Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame: John Von Ohlen Jazz Studies Scholarship

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AARON is a 2023 graduate of Randall K. Cooper High School in Union, Kentucky. He has been playing the drums since the age of five but began his formal training through participation in school bands and private lessons in the 6th grade. 

Through all four years of his high school career, Aaron played in the marching band, percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, pep band and pit orchestra. In addition, he was selected for, and participated in, the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) All-District Select Band in each year of high school. Aaron was also selected for the KMEA All-State Band and the Western Kentucky University Honors Band his junior and senior years, respectively, and has received numerous awards for his high school band accomplishments.

Beyond his playing experience in school, Aaron was a two year member of the Cincinnati Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools Band, a 2022 participant in the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame’s Jazz at Dusk band and has played occasional professional gigs in the region. In addition to playing the drums, Aaron enjoys a wide variety of music and art and has played club and travel lacrosse since fourth grade. Most recently he was named a co-captain of his high school lacrosse team.

Aaron is honored and thankful to have been awarded the 2023 John Von Ohlen Jazz Studies Scholarship and is excited to continue his jazz studies at the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music.