Composing His Future: UNCP’s Jaylen Jones Heads to Top Jazz Graduate School

Sitting on stage during his senior recital, tenor saxophonist Jaylen Jones found himself in a moment that once felt far out of reach —performing original compositions, confident in his sound and certain of his path.

Just four years earlier, Jones arrived at UNC Pembroke as a music major with limited jazz experience. Today, the graduating senior has been accepted into multiple prestigious jazz studies graduate programs and will continue his musical journey this fall at the University of North Texas, one of the nation’s premier jazz programs.

“I was a saxophone player, but I wasn’t really a jazz player,” Jones said. “When I came here, I was introduced to artists like Duke Ellington, and that changed everything. I started writing, studying and really taking it seriously. That’s when I decided this could be my career.”

Jones, 21, picked up the saxophone at age 13, encouraged by his mother. While he entered UNCP with a background in band and performance, it wasn’t until his time on campus that he began to refine his identity as a jazz musician.

Through mentorship from faculty members, including Dr. Aaron Vandermeer, Jones developed both the technical foundation and creative mindset needed to grow. He became a cornerstone of Jazz Combo I, performing regularly and composing more than 40 original works — many of which premiered at UNCP.

“Jaylen came to UNCP as a novice in jazz studies. Since then, he has made extraordinary progress in improvisation, theory, composition, historical knowledge and proficiency on the saxophone and piano.

"He is among the finest students I have had in 20 years at UNCP," Vandermeer said.

A defining moment came during UNCP’s Holiday Extravaganza, where Jones delivered what he considers one of his strongest performances.

“That was when I thought, ‘I’m just about there — I just need to keep working,’” he said.

Jones’ growth did not go unnoticed. He was accepted into all four graduate programs he applied to, including the highly competitive Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and the University of North Texas (UNT).

“It was surprising,” Jones said. “Having those schools say they wanted me — that was exciting. It showed me I could keep developing.”

Ultimately, he chose North Texas for both its reputation and the opportunity to learn from some of the top minds in jazz.

At UNT, Jones will study composition and arranging, including private lessons with Grammy-nominated composer and arranger Rich DeRosa, whose own high school teacher was Richie Iacona, a 1969 alumnus of Pembroke State College. Iacona was honored by UNCP as its first Distinguished Music Alumni Award recipient.

“I love UNCP because of the personal connections, and I wanted to challenge myself,” Jones said. “Being around people who are as good or better than me —that’s how I grow.”

Vandermeer believes Jones is ready for that challenge.

“At UNT, he’s going to enter an environment with students who have been seriously studying jazz for more than a decade,” Vandermeer said. “Still, with his passion and work ethic, I am certain that he will thrive.”

Beyond technical skill, Jones credits UNCP for shaping him personally.

“I feel like I’ve opened up more,” he said. “The professors here are passionate, and they push you. It made me more committed — not just to music, but to being better overall.”

His journey reflects the university’s mission of access and opportunity — proof that growth is possible regardless of where a student starts.

“Jaylen is a quiet guy, but when he puts the saxophone to his mouth or the pen to the music staff, he’s anything but,” Vandermeer said. “He’s taken advantage of the expressivity of this quintessentially American art form, and I’m excited to see his continued development in such an elite environment.”

While Jones acknowledges the competitive nature of the music industry, his goals remain grounded in passion.

“My dream is to be a full-time composer, but I’m happy just being part of the industry,” he said. “I love playing, creating and working with others.”