Jazz Intensive

JULY 27–AUGUST 2, 2025

Ages 13–17

The Walnut Hill Summer Jazz Intensive is a one week program open to aspiring young jazz musicians on all instruments and voice. The program is performance-centered, and it also includes workshops on jazz theory, jazz history, and an optional jazz composition session. If you are a serious young jazz musician who is looking to connect with other serious players and singers, while bringing your skills and knowledge to the next level, then this is for you!

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About the Program

Details

The week kicks off with a curated jam session, where everyone plays together. Jam session tunes will be announced to all participants before the start of the Jazz Intensive.
Participants will perform in one small ensemble throughout the week, and will benefit from working with two different coaches. Several tunes will be assigned to each group in advance to allow for adequate preparation.
Each ensemble will perform a range of jazz styles.
In addition to rehearsals, the Jazz Intensive will feature daily workshops on topics such as: jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, and performance skills.
Each student will receive one hour-long private jazz lesson with one of the instructors.
An optional jazz composition session will be offered.
The Jazz Intensive will culminate in a final performance on Friday evening.

Auditions

Deadline: March 1, 2025

Audition Video Requirements (length should not exceed 15 minutes per student):

Please verbally introduce yourself and tell us briefly why you would like to attend the Walnut Hill Summer Jazz Intensive.
Play two contrasting jazz tunes as follows: using either a backing track or a live ensemble, please play the melody one time and then improvise for at least one chorus (over the entire form). Please follow this sequence for both tunes.
Jazz etude: please play a short jazz etude. Examples of jazz etude books include: John McNeil: The Art of Jazz Trumpet, and method books by David Baker, Jerry Bergonzi, Jerry Coker, Jane Miller, Oliver Nelson, Scott Reeves, Rufus Reid, Ramon Ricker, etc.

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Tuition & Fees

Faculty

Mark Tipton

Mark Tipton is a trumpeter, composer, music educator, and producer in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the Lead Instructor of Jazz and Contemporary Musical Arts at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts and a DMA Candidate at New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) with a concentration in Jazz Performance. During the past three years he has had the pleasure of working with Jason Palmer, John McNeil, Jerry Bergonzi, Ambrose Akinmusire, Billy Hart, Joe Morris, Jason Moran, Don Byron, Michael Formanek, Frank Carlberg, Dave Holland, Carl Atkins, Omar Thomas, Henrique Eisenmann, Anna Webber, Ken Schaphorst, Mehmet Sanlikol, Emmanuel Attah Poku, Felicia Sandler, Brian Levy, and others.

Daniel Mayer

Daniel Mayer is an American bassist and guitarist originally from Bernardsville, New Jersey. While initially starting out on the guitar at the age of nine, he eventually fell in love with the bass and resolved to move forward with both instruments. After earning his B.A. from Bowdoin College, Daniel went on to be awarded the Dean’s Scholarship to complete his M.M. at the New England Conservatory, where he had the privilege of studying with Cecil McBee, Frank Carlberg, and Jason Moran. A distinctive emerging artist of his generation, Daniel has gone on to perform internationally at renowned venues such as the Panama Jazz Festival, Jordan Hall, and Regattabar. He leads the band Cartographs alongside pianist George Maclaurin and drummer Carlo Kind. In addition to his work as a leader, Daniel has also performed with Nat Adderley Jr., Nasheet Waits, Mark Tipton, José Soto, and Fortuno.

Additional faculty to be announced.

Walnut Hill School for the Arts reserves the right to cancel a course that fails to meet the required minimum enrollment. All payments are due in full at the time of registration and non-refundable. Refunds will only be issued in the event of program cancellation due to low enrollment.

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