In 2021, Jazz Aspen Snowmass will expand its mid-summer collaboration with JAS Academy with the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami to include the new “Sessions Combo / Small Ensemble”.

This intensive two-week workshop, which will take place July 11-25, will be followed by the highly acclaimed JAS Academy “Individual / Big Band Sessions”, July 25-August 8, led by the JAS Academy Artistic Director and winner of several Grammy Awards. Bass player Christian McBride. McBride will work in tandem with Frost Dean Shelly Berg and JAS Academy Program Director Chuck Bergeron, Associate Professor of Professional Practice at the Frost School, who will work on both sessions.

JAS Academy is one of the only full scholarship summer residences in the country, made possible through the generosity of philanthropists Sasha and Ed Bass who have pledged to fund the JAS Academy’s operating budget during the five (5 ) early years of the partnership with Frost. . It is their generous donation that allowed JAS and the Frost School of Music to extend the previous residency from 7 days to two weeks in 2019-2020 and now to four weeks in 2021.

Four groups have been selected for the Combo / Small Ensemble session which will take place at Snowmass from July 11th to 25th. The groups include 21 students representing the Frost School of Music, Michigan State University, New York University and Ben Gurion University (Israel).

“JAS is delighted to welcome a new and expanded JAS Academy with a second week of Combo / Small Ensemble session, scheduled ahead of the well-established ‘Big Band Session’ which continues into its 3rd full season in 2021,” said Jim Horowitiz, president / CEO of JAS. . “For the new session, we have invited young, emerging artists into groups that have already established a unique repertoire and musical profile. They will focus on everything from performance refinement to business, marketing and career development, in using the Frost School of Music’s unique and diverse program approach under the direction of Dean Shelly Berg and Chuck Bergeron. “

In his comments, Dean Shelly Berg said: “In its three years of existence, JAS Academy, in conjunction with the Frost School of Music, has grown from one week to four. This is a testament to the quality of the program which provides an extraordinary opportunity for the talents of young musicians of the highest caliber to study and perform with our world-renowned faculty and the Academy’s 7-time Grammy Award-winning artistic director. Christian McBrideOne of our goals is to provide year-round opportunities for young aspiring musicians to explore their potential and acquire the skills necessary to become professionals in their profession. Our collaboration with Jazz Aspen, now entering its 30th season, has created a world-class opportunity to achieve this. “

23 additional students were accepted into the One-on-One / Big Band sessions which take place in Aspen from July 25 to August. 8. These students represent 10 schools / universities including Frost School of Music, Berklee College of Music, Eastman School of Music, Julliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New School Jazz Program, Temple University, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of North Texas and the University of Washington.

In addition to working with McBride, Berg and Bergeron, students will also have the opportunity to work and learn from Frost faculty including Rey Sanchez-Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation / Industry Professor of the music and entertainment industries, Etienne Charles-Associé Professor of Music and Jazz Studio and Brian lynch-Professor Jazz Trumpet / Music and Jazz Studio. Students will study an exciting program that focuses on both performance and recording. Participants will develop a musical product, from the selection of artistic direction and the creation of original compositions, to the performance, recording, marketing and distribution of a finished work. In addition to the daily coaching and mentoring of leading artists and educators, workshops and master classes on recording techniques, entrepreneurship and the evolving music industry will take place in learning environments. on-site and virtual.

The Academy will offer students the opportunity to attend master classes with some of the most talented jazz musicians in the world, including singer René Marie, guitarist Dan Wilson, singer Kurt Elling and one of the most prominent newcomers to the jazz scene today, Frost’s pianist, Emmet Cohen (BM ’12). Each of these artists will give public performances at the JAS Café during their visit.

Student performances will take place over the four weeks at various venues, including a special Big Band performance on Saturday August 7 at Harris Hall. Details on all performances, as well as the students attending this year, please visit jazzaspensnowmass.org/academy.