The Jazzschool, Berkeley's innovative music school dedicated to the study and performance of jazz, has become the official education arm of Yoshi's, the Bay Area's foremost jazz presenting organization. The announcement of the new partnership was made today by Jazzschool Founder and Executive Director Susan Muscarella and Yoshi's Artistic Director Peter Williams.
This joint venture was created to support and promote Yoshi's world-class performance venues and to further the music education of advanced young musicians aspiring to become professional jazz artists through the Jazzschool Institute for Developing Artists and Audiences, a progressive study and performance program developed and administered by the Jazzschool.
“We are confident that this unique partnership will mutually benefit both institutions as well as the San Francisco and East Bay Area communities," says Muscarella. “It will provide committed and musically gifted high school and college students from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds a greater range of outstanding educational and performance opportunities.
“In addition, we'll be able to offer a wider array of prestigious performance settings for students, including Yoshi's Oakland and Yoshi's San Francisco, the Jazzschool, and other venues and festivals in the greater Bay Area and throughout the U.S."
The program will offer students unique opportunities not only to hear the finest in live jazz, but to learn from and play with internationally renowned artists performing at both Yoshi's clubs.
“We have made the Yoshi's Oakland club available on occasion to local high school and college jazz ensembles," says Williams, “but we look forward to this formal relationship with the Jazzschool and the prospect of expanding our involvement in this essential area of jazz education. Developing young artists and audiences is at the heart of what we need to do to ensure the music's future."
Muscarella sees the program as a motivating forum for students to develop musicianship skills, to compose and perform new work, and to record on Jazzschool Records and other labels. “We intend to increase our community outreach and make every effort to develop new audiences," she says. “We expect that the program will present us with greatly increased publicity, marketing, and funding possibilities for mutually beneficial projects."
Saxophonist/composer/recording artist Michael Zilber is the Artistic Director for the new Jazzschool Institute for Developing Artists and Audiences. Students are accepted into performance ensembles (Advanced Jazz Workshop I & II, Studio Big Band, Advanced Afro-Cuban Ensemble) in fall, winter, and spring quarters based on an audition.
A week long summer intensive focusing on musicality and overall ensemble sound, composition, and improvisation will take place July 7-11. The summer program culminates in a recorded, photographed performance. (Call the Jazzschool at 510.845.5373 to schedule an audition appointment.)
Classes in advanced musicianship as well as private instruction are also planned.
Two concerts have been scheduled to benefit the new Jazzschool Institute. On April 20, Jazzschool Artist in Residence Taylor Eigsti will perform at Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland; and on December 8, at Yoshi's Oakland, the Jazzschool Advanced Jazz Workshop I and II will perform with special guest Ambrose Akinmusire.
This joint venture was created to support and promote Yoshi's world-class performance venues and to further the music education of advanced young musicians aspiring to become professional jazz artists through the Jazzschool Institute for Developing Artists and Audiences, a progressive study and performance program developed and administered by the Jazzschool.
“We are confident that this unique partnership will mutually benefit both institutions as well as the San Francisco and East Bay Area communities," says Muscarella. “It will provide committed and musically gifted high school and college students from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds a greater range of outstanding educational and performance opportunities.
“In addition, we'll be able to offer a wider array of prestigious performance settings for students, including Yoshi's Oakland and Yoshi's San Francisco, the Jazzschool, and other venues and festivals in the greater Bay Area and throughout the U.S."
The program will offer students unique opportunities not only to hear the finest in live jazz, but to learn from and play with internationally renowned artists performing at both Yoshi's clubs.
“We have made the Yoshi's Oakland club available on occasion to local high school and college jazz ensembles," says Williams, “but we look forward to this formal relationship with the Jazzschool and the prospect of expanding our involvement in this essential area of jazz education. Developing young artists and audiences is at the heart of what we need to do to ensure the music's future."
Muscarella sees the program as a motivating forum for students to develop musicianship skills, to compose and perform new work, and to record on Jazzschool Records and other labels. “We intend to increase our community outreach and make every effort to develop new audiences," she says. “We expect that the program will present us with greatly increased publicity, marketing, and funding possibilities for mutually beneficial projects."
Saxophonist/composer/recording artist Michael Zilber is the Artistic Director for the new Jazzschool Institute for Developing Artists and Audiences. Students are accepted into performance ensembles (Advanced Jazz Workshop I & II, Studio Big Band, Advanced Afro-Cuban Ensemble) in fall, winter, and spring quarters based on an audition.
A week long summer intensive focusing on musicality and overall ensemble sound, composition, and improvisation will take place July 7-11. The summer program culminates in a recorded, photographed performance. (Call the Jazzschool at 510.845.5373 to schedule an audition appointment.)
Classes in advanced musicianship as well as private instruction are also planned.
Two concerts have been scheduled to benefit the new Jazzschool Institute. On April 20, Jazzschool Artist in Residence Taylor Eigsti will perform at Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland; and on December 8, at Yoshi's Oakland, the Jazzschool Advanced Jazz Workshop I and II will perform with special guest Ambrose Akinmusire.
For more information contact Terri Hinte Publicity.
