March 29, 2017; Berkeley, California; Two California-based jazz institutions are joining hands in celebration of mutual anniversary milestones in 2017––The California Jazz Conservatory’s 20th and the Monterey Jazz Festival’s 60th––by doing what both do best: Supporting jazz education.
Announcing a three-year agreement, the California Jazz Conservatory (CJC) will be presenting partner of the Next Generation Jazz Festival (NGJF) Opening Night Concert for 2017––presented at Monterey’s historic Golden State Theater on Friday, March 31st––and for the 2018 and 2019 Next Generation Jazz Festival Opening Night Concerts.
In addition to presenting the popular concert by NGJF judges, the Conservatory has announced it will be awarding $500,000 in scholarships over the weekend to students performing at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, with winners to be determined by the Festival’s judges.
With 68 groups from nine states and 59 bands from fifteen counties spread across California, the Next Generation Jazz Festival ranks as one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind. Three of the California Jazz Conservatory’s own groups will be finalists, including the California Jazz Conservatory’s “Blue Ensemble,” the CJC’s “Jazzschool Studio Band” and the CJC’s “Advanced High School Jazz Workshop.”
“We’re excited to cheer on our own groups this weekend and we wish all participants well! This is a vibrant weekend dedicated to the future of jazz and we are honored and excited to participate with the Monterey Jazz Festival in a partnership focused on jazz education,” commented Susan Muscarella, President and Dean of the California Jazz Conservatory.
“What a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary years,” added Colleen Bailey, Executive Director of the Monterey Jazz Festival. “We warmly welcome our jazz education colleagues from the California Jazz Conservatory, and we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership to the benefit of our student musicians and to the benefit of jazz.”
The California Jazz Conservatory is located at 2087 Addison Street, Berkeley, California, 94704. Their website is cjc.edu. Telephone number is 510/845-5373.
The Monterey Jazz Festival may be reached via mail (PO Box JAZZ, Monterey, CA 93942) and by phone at 831/373-3366. Their website is montereyjazzfestival.org.
About the California Jazz Conservatory Founded in 1997 in Berkeley, California, as the Jazzschool––a community music school with jazz classes, workshops and concerts, which continue to be a focus to this day––the institution introduced a new four-year degree program in 2009, offering a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. At that time, the Jazzschool was incorporated into the newly renamed California Jazz Conservatory.
The institution was fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music in December of 2013, making the California Jazz Conservatory the only fully accredited, completely independent music conservatory in America totally devoted to the study and performance of jazz.
About the Monterey Jazz Festival The Monterey Jazz Festival, a leader in the jazz world since 1958, celebrates the legacy of jazz, expands its boundaries, and provides opportunities to experience jazz through the creative production of performances and educational programs.
