Ray Kaneko, a current jazz performance graduate student in Boyer College, recalls watching Temple’s Jazz Band win a past National Collegiate Jazz Competition from his TV in Tokyo, Japan before he came to Temple. Now, Kaneko is a saxophone player in the same winning band.
On January 18, 2026, the team won the competition again competing against the country’s nine other top collegiate jazz bands, and Kaneko was honored as an Outstanding Alto Saxophone player.
For Kaneko, now 25, it all began in January 2022, when he enrolled at Temple and was accepted into the Conditional Admission (Bridge) Program through Temple’s Center for American Language and Culture.
“So many people think New York is the best city for jazz music. But I feel like New York is very cool, but more international, right? In Philly, it’s more like U.S. jazz and culture.”
– Ray Kaneko
The Conditional Admissions Program, also called CAP, is for students who meet Temple’s academic requirements but need to work on their English skills. At the same time, students receive preparation for a successful transition to university life. Before Kaneko studied in the CAP Program, the last time he studied English was in middle school.
Through the program, he began his academic studies and improved his English at the same time. He also received intensive advising and learned about university life and culture, professors’ expectations, how to apply the APA and MLA writing styles commonly used by U.S. universities and he learned how to use university resources.
Within a year, in January 2023, Kaneko officially matriculated to his degree classes at Temple.
“Rarely seen on campus without his saxophone case and a smile, Ray’s discipline and positive presence are a gift to our university. He devotes significant time to his craft through rehearsals and performances, all while balancing a strong commitment to his academic work. I’m incredibly happy for him. He works exceptionally hard and deserves to be celebrated for the level of talent and commitment that he puts forth in everything he does,” said Emily Clymer, an ESL specialist and CAP advisor at the Center for American Language and Culture who worked closely with Kaneko when he was in the program.
Choosing Temple
He is Temple through and through—first as a CAP student, then as an undergraduate majoring in jazz performance at the Boyer College of Music, from which he already graduated. Now, he is continuing his jazz performance studies as a graduate student at Boyer.
His journey toward Temple began in 2016 when Kaneko attended the Seiko Jazz Camp in Japan. There, he met and was recommended by Professor Tim Green to attend the Port Townsend Jazz Camp in Seattle. Tim Green currently teaches at the Peabody Institute. At age 17, Kaneko travelled to the U.S. to attend the jazz camp in Seattle. There he met Temple’s Director of Jazz Studies and acclaimed trumpeter, Terrell Stafford.
“I love Professor Terrell. He teaches very well and everyone in the band plays at a super high level,” said Kaneko.
Now, he has been playing with Temple’s jazz band for three years. In 2024, the band had a Midwest tour with stops at different universities and music festivals. Over spring break in 2025, the band went on a five-day tour in Japan. Professor Stafford led both tours.
After his time at Temple, Kaneko plans to stay in Philadelphia and continue his jazz career.
“So many people think New York is the best city for jazz music. But I feel like New York is very cool, but more international, right? In Philly, it’s more like U.S. jazz and culture,” said Kaneko.
I feel like people are growing here. I want to also grow with them,” he added.
By Iona Clark (KLN ’26), Journalism Major
Header image: Ray Kaneko
Photos courtesy of Ray Kaneko