A sophomore at City College majoring in Jazz Studies, Lo Wood studies jazz baritone saxophone with Ronnie Cuber and Gary Smulyan. In addition to her involvement with NYYS Jazz for the last two years, Lo has been seen performing as a member of the Grammy award-winning Mingus Big Band, as well as alongside trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. She has also been seen numerous times playing with the New York University Jazz Orchestra, and through the program has shared the stage with the likes of Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Wayne Krantz and more. She aspires to finish her degree and eventually go to Juilliard for graduate school.

“My experience with New York Youth Symphony Jazz is nothing short of fantastic, and more than anything, inspiring. With the today’s state of affairs, it’s hard to feel secure about the future of instrumental music as we understand it- but whenever I play with this amazing group of young, talented, musicians… I am confident that this music continues to thrive. Matt Holman, the director, is passionate about the music in a way that helps to continue this tradition while simultaneously inspiring others. Besides being conscientious of making beautiful sounds, Matt has always emphasized on being able to make a living with what we do. His advice has served me well, last year after playing with NYYS Jazz at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola with Wycliffe Gordon as our guest artist, I received a call at 2 a.m. that night asking if I wanted to play with him that following weekend at Columbia University for his holiday concert! That gig was really something else. That, besides playing with the Mingus Big Band, has been one of the brightest highlights of my career thus far, and would not have been possible if not for this program.”