We congratulate Deborah Smith for her outstanding achievement as the 2023 Billy Strayhorn Jazz Education Scholarship Award recipient from Temple University. Deborah is from Bridgeport, Connecticut who attended Central High School in Bridgeport and the Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, CT. She started playing trombone in the 7th grade. She is a rising junior after just completing her 2nd year. Deborah has gotten to play at many well known venues in Philadelphia and New York City, including Dizzy’s Club and Birdland. The love and passion she has for the music keeps her driven to push through any obstacles. Some of Deborah’s trombone favorites include Curtis Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon and Al Grey. She is hoping to inspire others and spread the art of music to people all over the world. We have no doubt Deborah will do that ! Kudos to Terell Stafford, Director of Jazz Studies at Temple and his amazing staff for nurturing the musical talents of Deborah and so many others through their program.