Two New Trier Jazz students named YoungArts winners in prestigious national competition

Two New Trier students are 2024 YoungArts award winners, joining nearly 700 of the most accomplished young performing, literary, and visual artists in the country. Seniors Robert (Duke) Baur and Miriam Goroff-Behel were both named winners in the jazz discipline for demonstrating exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and an extraordinary commitment to developing their crafts. Also known as the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists, YoungArts is the arts advocacy entity for the United States Department of Education.

Before joining one of the most comprehensive programs for emerging artists in the United States, the students were selected from over 9,000 applications across 10 artistic disciplines: classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. Baur and Goroff-Behel, who play the tenor and alto saxophone respectively, are two of only four students in Illinois to be chosen in the jazz division. In addition to a monetary award, YoungArts winners gain access to a lifetime of arts-specific professional development, funding, and performance opportunities, and a network of inter-generational artists to connect, create, and collaborate with.

“My time at New Trier certainly has made a great impact on receiving this award,” Baur said. “The performance opportunities, inspiring peers, and caring teachers make this place incredibly important to me and certainly crucial to my development as both a musician and student.”

According to New Trier Director of Jazz Ensembles Nic Meyer, Baur and Goroff-Behel exemplify what it means to be a dedicated student musician. Both students play in New Trier’s jazz and wind ensembles, study privately, participate in the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Jazz Program, and are members of the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Young Master’s Program. Despite participating in many of the same activities, their distinct personalities and style are evident when they play music.

“While Duke and Miriam participate in many of the same programs, they each have their own distinct voices on the saxophone, which they are sculpting as they study their musical heroes,” Meyer said. “ In that way, their paths are as unique as their own musical voices, but they share a deep mutual respect for each other’s artistry. I’m proud to say that they will both always be members of our New Trier Jazz community.”

As YoungArts winners who plan to continue studying music in college, Baur and Goroff-Behel join a distinguished group of accomplished artists, including Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Jonathan Adler, and Chris Young. More about YoungArts and their mission to identify exceptional young artists, amplify their potential, and invest in their creative freedom can be found at youngarts.org/about/.

“I have to give a lot of credit to all my teachers and mentors who have always challenged me and encouraged me to become the best musician I can be,” Goroff-Behel said. “I don't know where I will study just yet, but my ultimate goal is to create and play music that is impactful and inspiring.”