Kyrstyna Jones
Jazz Studies Instructor and MYSO alumna Kyrstyna Jones was a part of the Jazz Studies program from 2014-2018. During her time in MYSO, she developed a love for improvisation, and in her senior year of high school she premiered her first composition, One Shot. The positive feedback from her fellow students and teachers was the pivotal point in her decision to pursue her career in composition.
Kyrstyna received a degree in Music Composition and Technology from UW-Milwaukee in December of 2025. During her time at UWM, she studied under William Heinricks, Nathan Nokes, and Phillip Sink. She composed numerous pieces, although one genre drew her in the most, and that was jazz. Kyrstyna took jazz to a new level in her latest piece, Lost In The Sauce, a collaboration with one of her closest friends, Jack Koshkin, inspired by a quote from Thelonious Monk. The quote emphasizes that musicians should stay true to their passion rather than give in to public expectations. Lost in the Sauce reflects this idea through five different jazz genres, symbolizing an artist’s journey from the beginning to the top. Kyrstyna says, “You may get lost sometimes, but it’s important to stick to your original sound because no one else can recreate it.”
Kyrstyna’s goals post-graduation are to release a jazz album and have a wider diversity in composing for multiple genres. She is very honored to be back at MYSO as a Jazz Studies instructor to pass on the knowledge and wisdom she received from her previous mentors during her time there.