There’s no better time than summertime to revel in the quintessential American art form: JAZZ. And what better place for gifted young emerging jazz artists to expand their creativity and music business acumen that than in Aspen, Colorado at the JAS Academy in Collaboration with the Frost School of Music.
It is the nation’s only all-scholarship collegiate jazz training program, produced by Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, with workshops, jam sessions, and exciting concerts presented at the Aspen Art Museum and other venues in the Aspen Snowmass region.
Since 1991, the JAS Academy has paired young artists with jazz masters such as Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Russell Malone, and many others in an intensive series of workshops, seminars, and performances. Many of these artists have gone on to become permanent members of some of the most prestigious working jazz groups today.
The highly-acclaimed JAS Academy is continuing its expansion to offer two separate two-week intensive workshops, starting with the “Combo/Small Ensemble Sessions” taking place July 10-24 with internationally acclaimed faculty, followed by “Individual/Big Band Sessions,” from July 24 - August 7, led by JAS Academy Artistic Director and multi-Grammy winning Bassist Christian McBride.
Students also benefit from intensive sessions with Frost faculty including Chuck Bergeron, professor of professional practice and JAS Academy Program Director; Rey Sanchez, associate dean for strategic initiatives and innovation/professor of music industry; Etienne Charles, associate professor of studio music and jazz; and Brian Lynch, professor of jazz trumpet/studio music and jazz.
The JAS Academy is one of the nation’s only full-scholarship summer residencies, made possible by the generosity of philanthropists Sasha and Ed Bass. They pledged to underwrite the operating budget of the JAS Academy for the first five years of the partnership with Frost. It is their generous donation that allowed JAS and the Frost School of Music to expand the previous seven-day residency to two weeks in 2019-2020, and now four weeks as of last year.
Four bands have been selected for the Combo/Small Ensemble Session, taking place in Snowmass on July 11-24. The groups include 19 students representing Frost School of Music, University of Southern California, Manhattan School of Music, and Northern Illinois University.
An additional 23 students were accepted into the Individual/Big Band Sessions taking place in Aspen July 24-August 7. These students represent 12 schools/universities including Frost School of Music, Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, University of North Texas, Michigan State University, Rutgers, New York University, Temple, Peabody Institute, Elmhurst University, and Central Washington University.
Students get to study an exciting curriculum that focuses on both performance and recording. Participants develop a musical product, from selecting the artistic direction and crafting original compositions, to performing, recording, marketing, and distributing of finished work. In addition to daily coaching and mentorship from leading artists and educators, students have an opportunity to participate in workshops and master classes in Recording Techniques, Entrepreneurship, and the evolving Music Industry, which take place in both onsite and virtual learning environments.
Students also have the opportunity to perform at a variety of venues, including a night featuring the Small Ensembles at the JAS Café rooftop at the Aspen Art Museum on Thursday, July 21, and a special Big Band performance led by Christian McBride on Saturday, August 6 at the Wheeler Opera House.
For details on all performances and a list of the students attending this year, please visit jazzaspensnowmass.org/academy.
