Keyon Mosley, 2020 graduate of Academy at Polombo, understands the secret to moving in the right direction in life, “Always keep your ears open.” he says.  Over the past seven years, Keyon has definitely kept his ears, eyes, and mind open making the most of every opportunity presented to him. 

Along the way, Keyon carefully took in advice from his mentors, including Valrie Gay, founder of Fortress Arts Academy and the Philadelphia Clef Club’s teacher Marcel Bellinger. He shared, “They taught me how to talk, deal with people on gigs, how to persevere through difficult times on gigs with difficult people.” Both the Clef Club and Fortress Arts Academy are two places Keyon considers his second home and extended family.  

Keyon fondly recalls learning from the older generation of his Clef Cub extended ‘family’ including Don Gardner, former Managing Director and Lovett Hines the current Artistic Director. “Mr. Gardner recruited me to the Clef Club when I was 11 and Mr. Hines always said that I will be a star. Everyone is knowledgeable at the Clef Club and I want to use the knowledge given to me and give back to my community.”

Keyon is now looking forward to majoring in Jazz Performance at Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory this Fall. Why Peabody, “I chose Peabody because I wanted to be in a smaller program that I couldn’t get lost in or too distracted. It’s a small program with a centralized conservatory setting where I can still learn and grow, and I’m in a new city yet close enough to Philly.”

So what advice does Keyon have for those who want to study jazz? “It’s going to be hard at first, and it’s going to be a good challenge for you, but just stay committed, listen and learn from your mentors and you will be successful.”