12th Annual 2026 Summer Jazz Workshop
*** SPECIAL EARLY BIRD RATE ('TIL MAY 31) ***
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Through a joint partnership between SLO Jazz Festival and Cuesta College Community Programs, with Direction from Ron McCarley, Director of Jazz Studies, and John Knutson, Director of Choral Studies, we are announcing the 12th Annual 2026 Summer Jazz Workshop.
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
The SLO Summer Jazz Workshop is a 5-day jazz performance course put on by the SLO Jazz Festival and Cuesta College aimed at students from Junior High through College and adults looking for a positive experience of musical growth.Each student will be instructed as to the role his/her instrument plays in a jazz ensemble as well as how to present themselves on the bandstand and prepare for getting paid work playing music. This intensive week is a great time for learning to make music with new people, learning your instrument better and understanding jazz improvisation. This summer’s workshop participants will be divided into three separate groups: “Jazz Master Class” and “Anyone Can Improvise.” The groups will participate jointly in some exercises but will have focused time each day for specialized lessons based on their skill level. Please use the information below to help you choose the appropriate group. DATES: 1 week, Monday - Friday. July 6 - 10, 2026 Anyone Can Improvise: Enroll Now 8:30am – 2:30pm (45-minute lunch break from 12:15-1pm)
9:30am – 3:45pm (30-minute lunch break from 12:30-1pm)
9:30am – 3:45pm (30-minute lunch break from 12:30-1:00pm)
DATES: Monday - Friday: July 6 - 10, 2026 AGES: Ages welcome 12 and up FEES:
INSTRUCTOR: Ron McCarley, John Knutson, Darrell Voss, guest artists QUESTIONS: Contact Scott Andrews, SLO Jazz Fest at 805-459-6939 or Community Programs at (805) 546-3132. Final Concert DATE: Friday, July 10, 2026 TIME: 2:30pm – 3:30pm Note: We've had some inquiries into enrolling for the Summer Jazz Workshop from older students as well. Please be encouraged that we welcome young, middle-aged, and older students. This isn't just for the kids! Previously, in just one year we had 4 students over 60 sign up! So, that is a growing segment - maybe we'll have enough this year for a Senior combo! Jazz is a celebration of life - at any age. Of course, we'll have many 8th graders to college freshmen, as that is always a popular age group for the bulk of students, but we wanted to answer this question for you if you're wondering.
LOCATION: Cuesta College San Luis Obispo Campus Room 7160 SCHOLARSHIPS are AVAILABLE NOW for all who qualify. Contact info @ slojazzfest . org (without spaces) for details. QUESTIONS: Contact Scott Andrews, scott @ slojazzfest (dot) org or 805-459-6939. Sponsorship Opportunities: $3,000 Big Band Sponsor 2023 Summer Jazz Workshop (2) Big Band sponsor of the Summer Jazz Workshop, an education event held July 10-14, 2023. Receive significant print, and banner behind the band benefits and ad in program. Includes 8 complimentary concert tickets. $1,500 Combo Sponsor 2023 Summer Jazz Workshop Sextet sponsor of the Summer Jazz Workshop. Receive significant print, and banner near main stage benefits and ad in program. Includes 6 complimentary concert tickets to final concert. $1,000 Quartet Sponsor 2023 Summer Jazz Workshop Quartet sponsor of the Summer Jazz Workshop, an education event held July 10-14, 2023. Receive significant print, and banner behind the band $500 Duo Sponsor 2023 Summer Jazz Workshop Event sponsor of the Summer Jazz Workshop, an education event. Receive significant print benefits and ad in program. Includes 2 complimentary tickets to the final concert. $250 Student Sponsor 2023 Summer Jazz Workshop Event sponsor of the Summer Jazz Workshop, an education event. Receive significant print benefits and ad in program. Includes 2 complimentary tickets to the final concert. All sponsors will be announced and thanked at the final concert. |
Special Guest Instructors Will be AMAZING again - we will announce them soon!
Above: 2017 SLO Jazz Festival Youth Stage with a Student combo from the Summer Jazz Workshop. The Summer Jazz Workshop band gets opportunity to perform at the following year's jazz festival. Here's a combo from 2015 performing at the 2016 SLO Jazz Festival:
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(below) Photos from the 2016 - 2019 Summer Jazz Workshop. PJ Images took 2017 photos. 2018 photos by Dann Graham. 2016 photos by Andrew Ross, AR Photography, except as noted. 2019 photos by Scott Andrews.
