Chautauqua Jazz Experience Workshops

The Chautauqua Jazz Experience is a series of programs, held June 25-28, that inspire creativity, inclusivity, knowledge, understanding and joy around the musical world and lifestyle of jazz.

Experiencing jazz from its roots through its influence in today’s modern genres, explore the impact of this art form, its legends and innovators, hallmark recordings and compositions, and its everlasting cultural exchanges on the global stage.

The schedule of events includes a series of opportunities for music students, educators and enthusiasts to celebrate jazz through participation and attendance at workshops, jam sessions, lectures and performances.

The Chautauqua Jazz Experience hopes to develop new audiences of younger generations and engage new listeners while also renew music enthusiasts in a deep appreciation of our nation’s African American musical heritage that has inspired history, developed artists and musicians from all walks of life, made contributions and influences in genres that define the 20th century and beyond, and enriched a global impact of unity and cultural exchange.

The Chautauqua Movement embodies the lifestyle that is found in the essence of jazz – engaging one’s creative, informative, spiritual and overall wellbeing.

Special Workshops & Registration

Registration is required for the Jazz Workshop (1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday) and the Jazz Singers Workshop (3:30-5 p.m. Monday). Chautauqua Jazz Week Experience artists-in-residence will explore jazz music and its cultural and the soulful side of playing and singing it. Perfect for musicians of all ages, these workshops are taught from the stage of Hoover Auditorium or Orchestra Hall and feature educational jazz sessions, play-a-longs and more.

Registration includes participation in the chosen workshop(s). Admission and parking to Lakeside are not included.

Jazz Workshop 

June 26-28, 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Hoover Auditorium Stage
Registration for 3 days: $45 per person
Open to players of all levels, join the artists-in-residence for a workshop on playing jazz with focus on the basics of styles and improvisation. Learn how to use the blues progression in your playing, different melodic patterns and jam using various techniques in harmony, melodies and grooves. Learn how to play over basic and more advanced chord progressions, using various scales and melodic concepts, and how and what to listen for in playing as a soloist and with a group. Workshop participants will be placed into various music levels during registration. A culmination of the workshop ends with participants playing an opening group-song at the Wednesday evening concert in Hoover Auditorium.

REGISTER NOW!

Jazz Singers Workshop

June 26, 3:30-5 p.m. | Orchestra Hall
Registration for this Workshop: $15 per person
Open to singers of all levels, join Evelyn Wright and Michael Shirtz for a workshop where they explore interpretation, phrasing, storytelling, vocal technique, and the styles of singing jazz standards and how that translates into singing commercial pop tunes, and the songs that make up the Great American Songbook. From Gershwin to Ellington and Cole Porter to Carol King, experience what makes these songs and their performances so special and unique, and how you may apply them to your own singing. Singers attending the workshop may bring repertoire with them for opportunities to perform if time allows.

REGISTER NOW!

This Week’s Schedule:

Sunday, June 25

10:30 a.m. Community Worship with Jazz Music (Hoover Auditorium)
6 p.m. Jazz at the Bandstand with Evelyn Wright & Michael Shirtz (Hoover Auditorium)

Monday, June 26

10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Lecture Series: “Congo Square… The Journey Begins” with Dwight Bailey (Orchestra Hall)
1:30-3:30 p.m. Chautauqua Jazz Workshop (Hoover Auditorium) – pre-registration required
3:30-5 p.m. Jazz Singers Workshop with Evelyn Wright & Michael Shirtz (Orchestra Hall) – pre-registration required
5:30-6:30 p.m. Trivia Night: Jazz (Walnut Plaza)
8-9 p.m. Jazz@Nite: The Music of Sam Blakeslee & Chris Coles (Hoover Auditorium Stage)

Tuesday, June 27

10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Lecture Series: “Women in Jazz” with Evelyn Wright & Jackie Warren (Orchestra Hall)
12-12:45 p.m. Jammin’ with Jerry (Walnut Plaza)
1:30-3:30 p.m. Chautauqua Jazz Workshop (Hoover Auditorium) – pre-registration required
3:30-5 p.m. Chautauqua Lecture Series: “Jazz Crossovers” with Dr. Timm Mackley (Orchestra Hall)

Wednesday, June 28

10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Lecture Series: “Is Jazz Still Alive?” with Dwight Bailey (Orchestra Hall)
1:30-3:30 p.m. Chautauqua Jazz Workshop (Hoover Auditorium) – pre-registration required
7:30 p.m. Ohio Jazz All-Stars “Tribute to Jazz at the Philharmonic” (Hoover Auditorium)