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PAID Permit No. 2 Amherst, MA U.S. Postage Non Profit Org Students “score big” when they participate in Jazz in July, the UMass Fine Arts Center’s summer program focused on jazz improvisation and jazz culture. Jazz in July offers two challenging one-week residencies with the country’s top jazz artist/educators. Students work with these cutting-edge artists to hone their musical and performance skills through one-on-one sessions, lectures, group clinics, jazz theory and improvisation training, ensemble coaching, style explorations, jam sessions and public performances. Some impressive notes on Jazz in July: Jazz in July educators believe that all students are on the same musical path. “WE There is no age limit. Students range in age from 15-65+. Jazz in July creates an atmosphere where music is the only unifying factor. It strives to eliminate age and cultural barriers. Jazz LEARNED in July Alumni rave about the chance they had to work with faculty and students THE LANGUAGE from across the country and around the globe! They have all made lifelong friendships at Jazz in July! OF JAZZ!” Jazz in July is rooted in the tradition of jazz. Training is focused on the “nuts and bolts”—where students are taught how to Jazz in July Jazz 10 Curry Hicks ofUniversity Massachusetts, Amherst 100 Hicks Way Amherst, MA 01003-9267 apply basic skills to their own musical sense and style—taking the music where they want it to be. Jazz in July provides a “real world” experience for students. Jazz in July strengthens students’ artistic abilities but also their ability to become “working/productive” musicians. Each session includes various opportunities for students to perform live for a ticket-buying audience! Our alumni have gone on to do some great things! Visit our website, www.jazzinjuly.com. Like our Facebook page! 413.545.3530 www.jazzinjuly.com Jazz in July results are impressive. Our alumni have gone on to do great things. Ryan Sands Ryan Sands is 19 years old and and had no idea if I really had what it takes to be in this business.” a freshman at the New England “ I was a woman With an open mind and spirit, mixed with some fear and trepida- Conservatory of Music in Boston. tion, Nnenna enrolled at Jazz in July. She received a 50% scholarship Christian Sands He has been playing the drums chasing my which made it affordable for her to attend. since he was 3 years old. Playing dream and Jazz the drums came very naturally to him. Today he says he can feel in July gave me “ It was a life changing experience. Just a beautiful environment to “The piano chose me. In my home chill and work.” Nnenna especially enjoyed the intergenerational what you didn’t do was not play mu- the overall power in his hands and that shot, my community of the program. There were people of all ages, places sic.” He began classical training at the the energy of the people around chance to achieve and levels of experience. Some were new to performing, some were age of 3. Four years later he told his him when he performs. Ryan hears semi-pro, some from the local area, some from as far away as Copen- mother he wanted to learn jazz piano. rhythms everywhere around him, my dream.” hagen. She recalled talking informally, like at lunch or in the library, such as walking around the city listening to the sounds vehicles make with fellow students or faculty like Fred Tillis or her voice teacher at Christian attended the Manhattan on the road to the patterns and scrapes of elevators and escalators. the time Jerry Brown. “I was a sponge, soaking up as much as I could, School of Music, studying with Jason Nnenna Freelon whenever I could. It was such a rich environment! You could learn so Moran, a jazz pianist and composer. From 2008 to 2011 he attended Jazz in July at the University of much from each other. I made lifelong friendships at Jazz in July.” From 2004 to 2005 he attended the Massachusetts. “Steve Kuhn, renowned as one of the most lyrical and Nnenna Freelon is a jazz singer, composer, producer and arranger Jazz in July program at the University affecting pianists in jazz, changed my whole perspective and creativ- of national and international renown. She’s been nominated for five Nnenna attributes her decision to be a jazz singer to Jazz in July. of Massachusetts mentoring under Dr. ity. He made sure all of the students maintained parts of themselves Grammy Awards and has performed with such jazz greats as Ray “I didn’t know what my skill set was and how it would hold up in the Billy Taylor. From Jason Moran to Billy while performing exercises by putting our own spin on it.” Charles, Aretha Franklin, Dianne Reeves, Ramsey Lewis and more. larger music arena. But being exposed to such greats as Dr. Taylor, Taylor he studied the old school and the new school together. Today, She was born in Cambridge, MA and attended Jazz in July for three and the students at Jazz in July, I learned how to negotiate and navi- touring with Christian McBride and being on the road is like school Every year he learned something new. The first time he ever wrote years in the early1980s. Prior to that, she received her degree in gate the terrain. My confidence grew and grew. I found my shot, my for him. and composed music was at Jazz in July. From there he had the health care administration and moved to North Carolina. It was at the career at Jazz in July.” opportunity to perform the piece. One of his greatest experiences North Carolina Central College Jazz Festival where she met Dr. Billy “Billy Taylor was not just an educator, player and composer, he was while attending the program was meeting Dr. Fred Tillis, a soprano Taylor, who convinced her to attend Jazz in July. Her advice to future Jazz in July participants--“While you are there, everything music strives to be. He truly cared about music and the and tenor saxophonist who has performed music in the jazz and other take advantage of everything you can, the faculty, the other students, individual. When he spoke to you, you felt as if you were the only African American traditions throughout this country and the world. “ I was a mom, married with three children. I had finished my degree the beautiful environment of UMass and Western Massachusetts. You person in the world he was talking to. He was a huge part of my Talking with Dr. Tillis about Max Roach’s music was another highlight. in health care administration. I was singing and performing locally, can make whatever you want to happen, happen. Work hard!” playing and my inspiration. Dr. Taylor taught us how important it is “Attending Jazz in July was a very great experience. I learned to speak in the language we know best, the language of jazz. The something new every summer and became a better player. It was fun language of jazz lets us speak many things we cannot put into words. there. I met wonderful musicians, making new connections and forming We hope that you, the listener, can respond to the feelings we are great bonds.” Ryan expects to return to the program this summer. Evan Sherman trying to express. It’s an important part of our tradition, how we Evan Sherman a native of Short Hills, New Jersey attended Jazz in July in 2009. Sherman was a sophomore in high share our music with others to express our feelings.” See these and more alumni profiles at www.jazzinjuly.com! school, and described his experience as “The best way to play instruments.” He attended the intensive two-week pro- gram at UMass Amherst on a merit-based scholarship. Christian spoke of going to his grandma’s church in Geor- gia, feeling the foot stomping and clapping and when you Steve Johns, one of the faculty members and alumni of the program was the first person to encourage Sherman to at- go to jazz you hear the same thing. “Jazz in July did not SPONSOR A JAZZ IN JULY STUDENT tend Jazz in July. Thus, after researching the program, Sherman found its faculty appealing and applied. help me hear music differently but what it did was expose Every summer Jazz in July hosts up to 65 students me to different cultures such as Japan and France. When per week—over half attend with assistance from a In the instrumental ensemble program, Sherman enjoyed playing with older experienced musicians. One of his favorite I was playing with these musicians, even though their music Jazz in July scholarship. Christian and Ryan Sands, moments was being part of a large percussion drum choir, organized by Steve Johns in which only drummers attending was different in very small details, I could hear that it was Nneena Freelon and Evan Sherman were all scholar- the program performed. Sherman emphasized the occasion as rare and unique. The typical ensemble he participates in different. We are all manipulated by sound.” ship recipients. Scholarships are made possible consists of various instruments such as piano, base, trumpet, and saxophone, but never of drum sets only. through private funding. As a donor you can help “Jazz in July was like a family. The entire program was a underwrite a student who otherwise may not have “You would play everyday which was a great thing. When you stood at your instrument, in my case I sat behind the highlight, everything was exciting, from the staff to the RA’s the means to participate in this valuable, often life- drum sets the majority of the day, it helped you grow at a much quicker and exponential rate,” said Sherman when to the other students.

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