RCHS Sophomore Selected for NorCal Honor Band

Jacob Cook

Photo by Julie Castaneda

At the Schools’ Christmas Chapel on December 16, Redwood Christian Schools Music Director Rachel Chow announced that Sophomore Jacob Cook was selected as one of fifteen high school musicians throughout Northern California to the 2023 High School Jazz Ensemble.  Jacob has been playing the trumpet since he was six.  

When asked about his history with the trumpet, his mother, Katherine Cook, stated “When Jacob was two years old he was listening to Disney’s Jungle Book song ‘Bare Necessities.’ He heard a trumpet solo in the song and told his mother ‘I’m gonna play that.’  When asked what he wanted for his 6th birthday he replied ‘a trumpet’ but clarified that he wanted ‘a real one’” And as Dr. Al Hearne, Superintendent of Redwood Christian Schools said “the rest is history.”

His first love is the trumpet and the cornet, but he dabbles in all brass instruments: trombone, baritone, French Horn, Flugelhorn, to name a few.  His room looks more like a high school band room than a bedroom.

Jacob’s favorite piece is whatever he’s working on.  It’s always changing.  He is now writing his own work, and his favorite piece that he just composed is called “Jazz Heist.”

Jacob uses his musical gift playing in his church band, Pilgrim Temple Church in Hayward.

Jacob lives in Castro Valley with his parents Dustin and Kathy Cook, and his sister Julia, an eighth grader at Redwood Christian Middle School.

Mrs. Chow stated “Our entire school is so proud of Jacob.  His hard work and dedication to use the talent entrusted to him by God has enabled him to attain the skills to be selected over hundreds of trumpet players throughout Northern California, all while remaining an anchor to our high school band program and an excellent example for the students with whom he plays as well as younger musicians.  And his humility is an added blessing!”

The All Northern Honor Band Weekend is January 19-22, 2023 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.  The High School Jazz Band Conductor is Aaron Lington, Grammy Award-winning baritone saxophonist and composer, he is a professor at San José State University where he serves as Coordinator of Jazz Studies.