All that jazz

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PAWTUCKET - So what does a great jazz man do when he's matriculating to college? He goes to Loyola University, New Orleans, La., of course!

"I'm really excited about getting into the music program at Loyola," said St. Raphael Academy senior and tenor saxophonist Leland Baker. Baker, a second semester senior, flew down to New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, for an audition the weekend of Jan. 26-28. He was recently notified that he had been accepted at the university.

Baker, who is a member of the St. Raphael Academy Jazz Ensemble and Drama Club Orchestra has also been playing in the Rhode Island Youth Philharmonic for the past two years.

"He's been a tremendous asset to the Music Department," said Dr. Audrey Kaiser, the St. Ray's Music Director. "For someone who has only been playing the sax for three years and is talented enough to audition for and be accepted to such a prestigious program is incredible!"

Christian Brother Daniel Aubin, president of St. Raphael Academy, said, "We're so proud of Leland Baker. He is an example of how important it is to keep the Fine Arts alive in our schools, and the St. Raphael Academy community could not be more proud of him."

(This article originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)