Dr. Jacqueline Young, PhD.

Joined CYM in 2023

Education & Certifications

Dr. Jaqueline Young serves as the Executive Director of The Jazz Workshop, Inc., providing music education and musical performances to underserved communities. Since its inception in 1973, tens of thousands of individuals have been impacted by either receiving music lessons, teaching, playing with the big band, or being in the audience during one of the many concerts held throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Throughout the months of June and July, the weekly concert series called “Jazz on the Steps”, is presented at the Carnegie Library in Homewood. Also on Wednesdays, the concert series “Jazz on Larimer” is held throughout August and September. The year 2023 marks The Jazz Workshop’s 50th, which was celebrated at the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre on July 29th, and featured vocalist/pianist Mala Waldron, bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan, drummer Bobby Sanabria, and vibraphonist Jay Hoggard.

The Jazz Workshop collaborates with the Pittsburgh Public Schools to bring music performances and interactive assemblies in which students can be entertained and also participate. Dr. Young is keenly aware of the benefits music brings to all people, and to the youth in particular: that it develops spatial-temporal reasoning, facilitates good study habits, increases self-esteem and a sense of well being, and provides young people with personal assets that can be useful in developing any career. In addition, musicians from the organization go into nursing homes and assisted living facilities to provide entertainment to residents. 

Dr. Jacqueline L. Young (Jaki) is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. She grew up in a musical family and was inspired by her father, the late Harold Young, Sr. to play the saxophone. She attended Wilkinsburg High School, where she participated in the marching band, orchestra, and a rhythm and blues band called the “Eccentrics.” She attended the University of Pittsburgh and played under the tutelage of Dr. Nathan Davis in his jazz band. Her father, in the meantime, started the organization The Jazz Workshop, Inc. and Jaki joined the big band there as well. She has performed with many bands, is passionate about playing, and finds being a musician to be very fulfilling.

Jaki attended Barry University in West Palm Beach, FL where she received her Master of Social Work degree. She then earned a PhD in the Philosophy of Human Services, specializing in counseling, from Capella University. Her professional career has consisted of working as a Social Worker in the Veterans Administration System and as a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the US Air Force. Dr. Young is recently retired from the US Government.

Throughout the years, music lessons have been led at the Carnegie Library in Homewood: though that venue is no longer available, The Jazz Workshop’s 3-story building at 1015 Center Street, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221 is in the process of being renovated. Meet others who love music, jazz in particular, and are excited about supporting Jaki’s vision for this long-standing and vibrant organization! Go to www.jazzworkshopinc.org where your contributions of musical performance or financial donations matter significantly.