Meet The Educators
Daud El-Bakara—
Founder, Trumpet Instructor
Growing up as a jazz musician in Philadelphia and as a student of the Philadelphia Clef Club of
Performing Arts , Daud El-Bakara’s environment helped shape him into the musician he is
today.
El-Bakara knew from the age of 13 that Jazz was something that he would be doing in
the capacity of performing and writing for the duration of his existence. Daud El-Bakara
progressed quite rapidly and confirmation of this was his attainment of encouraging words in
reference to his tone on the trumpet from notable greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Art Farmer,
Clark Terry, Art Blakey, and Wynton Marsalis.
In 1995, El-Bakara obtained a full scholarship to Temple University majoring in Jazz Performance but chose to stay for one year stating that he wanted more opportunities to tour performing music which he did. Daud El-Bakara has performed and toured with Donald Byrd, Charles Fambrough, The Stylistics, and Kindred the Family Soul. El-Bakara continued his studies at Temple University in the Spring semester of 2014 majoring in Jazz performance and received his bachelor’s degree in 2020.
Daud El-Bakara is the 2017 recipient of the Philadephia Clef Club Jazz Award for best trumpet
player.
Aaron Graves—Musician/Composer/Arranger/Producer/Conductor
Aaron Graves learned to play various instruments including piano, bass, organ, and drums, in the church where his father, a great musician with a musical family, was pastor.
Aaron eventually moved to Washington, D.C. at age sixteen to play bass guitar with Richard Smallwood and attended The Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. This is where he began sharing the art form that some call jazz.
After touring with various artists including Richard Smallwood, Myrna Summers, The Voices Supreme, and Henry Davis, Aaron entered Howard University and received a Special Talent Scholarship. After two years of study, he transferred to the University of the District of Columbia to study with Jazz Master Calvin Jones. While studying at UDC Aaron auditioned for a National Endowment of the Arts grant, was accepted, and studied with Jazz Master Kenny Barron. He has also studied with Jazz Masters Barry Harris and Stanley Cowell.
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Richard Hill,
Bass instructor
Richard Hill Jr.'s passion for music blossomed during his high school days in Philadelphia, where he was immersed in the city's rich jazz scene. His exceptional talent on the bass was recognized in 2014 with an award from the prestigious Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts.
Performance and Recording Accolades:
Throughout his career, Hill Jr. has collaborated with a remarkable roster of renowned musicians, including jazz legends like Bobby Zankel, Owen Valentine, Sumi Tonooka, Wynton Marsalis, and Bilal. He has also graced international stages and lent his musical expertise to recordings with Javon Jackson, Jill Scott, and for the Korean Broadcasting Network.
Hill Jr.'s dedication to music extends beyond performance. He served as the resident composing artist at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, a testament to his creative artistry. Notably, he also held the position of Artistic Director at the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band, nurturing the talents of the next generation of young musicians.