Jazzbird Nights: Mary Petrich

Mary Petrich is a dynamic saxophonist, composer, and educator whose passion for creativity and improvisation has shaped a uniquely expressive voice in both jazz and classical music. As director of the Women’s Jazz Initiative at The Nash and founder of Nash Jazz DivAZ, she champions music education and empowerment for young women in jazz. A dedicated faculty member at Phoenix College, Petrich teaches jazz improvisation and combo performance, inspiring students to explore their own artistic voice. On stage, she’s performed with the Phoenix Symphony, The Temptations, AZ Festival Orchestra, and The Phoenix Chorale, in addition to leading her acclaimed OpenHand Quartet. Her latest ventures—The Jazz Women Collective and The Nash Little Big Band—celebrate the artistry of female composers and performers, continuing Petrich’s mission to elevate and diversify the jazz landscape.