Taber Gable

Taber Gable stands to make history twice (at least) this year. When he graduates from the University of Hartford this spring, he’ll be the first UH student to graduate on a full jazz piano scholarship. And if all goes as planned, this fall he will become the first Joy of Music School student to attend the world-renowned Juilliard School.

Taber’s journey to New York City and the pinnacle of musical training began at the end of 2013 when he sent an audition video to the Jazz Graduate School at Juilliard, whose director is the legendary Wynton Marsalis. The next step was the harrowing live audition in Manhattan. Despite getting lost on the way and arriving with icy fingers, he got a callback later that day. This time he was accompanied by a bass player and drummer. The committee asked for a couple of standards followed by Thelonius Monk’s “Hackensack.” The bass player threw him a curve by changing keys mid-tune. But Taber had strenuously prepared for just such a twist and handled it without incident. At the end of the session, the committee thanked him and said they would be in touch in about a month.

The results were posted online in March, and he was in—with a merit-based scholarship covering nearly all his expenses. Bravo, Taber! Your friends at the Joy of Music School will be eagerly watching your exciting career trajectory.

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