adam.jones@southernarizonayouthsymphony.org

Adam Jones

​

Adam R Jones is a Canadian-American Composer, Educator, and multi-instrumentalist who lives and works in Tucson, Arizona.  Adam holds a Bachelors of Applied Music from Vancouver Community College and is pursuing a M.M. in Jazz Studies from the Univ. of Arkanasas at Monticello.

 

Trained in both classical and jazz traditions, you can find Adam performing, arranging, writing and teaching a vast array of musical styles, from hip-hop to baroque to blues. 

His works for concert band and orchestra have been featured at large festivals in North America, and his jazz compositions have been performed internationally. 

His recordings have been nominated for many awards, including the Western Canadian Music Awards, the Canadian Country Music Awards, and the Bob Mills award.  He also makes a mean eggs benedict.

Jennalyn Tamio

​

Jennalyn Tamio is an avid multi-instrumentalist, chamber musician, and music educator currently pursuing their B.M.  in Music Education at the University of Arizona under Professor Lauren Roth.

Having been brought up in a culture that embraces the power of music, Jennalyn’s lifelong love of music began with accompanying on guitar and ukulele for their sister’s singing covers.
When faced with choosing an instrument for a middle school elective, Jennalyn picked violin on a whim and never looked back. Throughout their musical career, Jennalyn has performed in various genres, venues, and ensembles, from a professional symphony orchestra, to a metal cover band.

Shailagh Merrill

​

Shailagh Merrill is a music educator, conductor, violinist, and vocalist with more than 25 years of teaching experience and 43 years as a performing musician. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Arizona and holds Arizona teaching credentials in Music. She began her career teaching elementary general music, where she discovered a lifelong love of helping young musicians experience the joy of making music. Her teaching experience has since spanned elementary through university-level music education, ensemble instruction, and private teaching. For more than a decade, she also owned and operated a private music studio, where she maintained a violin studio of more than 40 students.

​

Shailagh currently teaches high school music and electives with K12 Private Academy, where she has taught since 2012. She previously served for 16 years as a Music Curriculum Content Specialist for K12/Stride, helping develop, revise, and align K–12 music curriculum and instructional resources. Throughout her career with K12, she has also developed professional learning and trained and supported music educators in translating effective music instruction to the virtual classroom.

​

At the heart of Shailagh’s teaching is the belief that every child is musical and deserves access to meaningful, high-quality music education. She believes strong musicianship and solid technique should develop alongside joy, curiosity, creativity, and a genuine love of making music. Whether working with a beginning student or an experienced young musician, her goal is to help students take ownership of their abilities, grow in confidence and musicianship, and discover that music can become a meaningful part of their lives. As Director of the Southern Arizona Youth Symphony String Orchestra, Vivace, and Beginning Group String Lessons, Shailagh draws on her decades of experience as both a musician and educator to create an environment where students are challenged to grow while finding joy and excitement in playing together.

OPEN POSITION 

 

If you have a music background are interested in volunteering for SAYS at practice, please email president@vailyouthsymphony.org and info@vailyouthsymphony.org for more information.

auditions@southernarizonayouthsymphony.org

Ivi Salcinovic

​

It's been my pleasure to serve as the audition coordinator for Southern Arizona Youth Symphony, and as a volunteer SAYS board member at large.

As a mother of two budding musicians, I love watching SAYS members share their passion for music, develop their skills, and gain friendships along the way!

I'm an engineer by profession, and also an avid cook and gardener. In my free time, I enjoy exploring many Tucson hiking trails.