Few high school musicians have enjoyed the kind of week Bellevue resident Ariel Pocock just had.

Last Friday, Ariel played piano and sang for the Newport High School Jazz Band at the Paramount Theatre as part of the Starbucks' Hot Java Cool Jazz concert.

On Monday, she won the high school division of the sixth annual Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Audition at Jazz Alley, scoring an all-expenses paid trip to compete in this spring's Jazz Vocal Queen contest in Kobe, Japan.

But it would be hard to top Wednesday, when she performed at McCaw Hall for Starbucks’ annual shareholders meeting, then turned the microphone over to singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. (Click on the link to see video of Ariel singing and playing piano.)

Those who follow local high school jazz will recognize Ariel as the outstanding vocalist singled out last year by the Wynton Marsalis, jazz artistic director at Lincoln Center, during the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival in New York City.

Ariel has been playing piano for years, but she got her start as a vocalist just two years ago. Newport had invited trombonist Wycliffe Gordon to perform with the band in their annual fundraiser and Gordon insisted someone sing one of the songs. Newport didn't have a jazz band vocalist, so band director Matt Eisenhauer and the band pointed to Ariel, then the band's only girl.

Last year at the band's annual fundraiser, guest artist Lew Soloff of Blood, Sweat & Tears fame said Ariel was the most talented student – high school or college – that he had ever performed with. Ariel sang Soloff's signature song “Spinning Wheel” with Soloff and the band played as the finale.

Newport's April 23 fundraiser at The Golf Club at Newcastle this year will feature guitarist G.E. Smith from Saturday Night Live's band.