Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute Announces Details for Inaugural NYO Jazz Program

Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) has announced the faculty and European tour highlights for the inaugural year of NYO Jazz, a four-week intensive summer program designed to showcase the talents of young American jazz instrumentalists (ages 16-19), beginning in summer 2018.

The NYO Jazz faculty is comprised of some of the finest jazz artists on the scene today, including drummer Obed Calvaire, trumpeter Etienne Charles, pianist Gerald Clayton, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, saxophonist Erica von Kleist, bassist Mimi Jones, guitarist Matthew Stevens, and ensemble coach Reggie Thomas, who will lead in-depth training workshops and master classes during the summer residency.

In its inaugural year, trumpet player Sean Jones will serve as NYO Jazz’s artistic advisor, leading the faculty as well as directing the orchestra’s debut performance at Carnegie Hall in July 2018, followed by its first international tour. This summer, NYO Jazz will travel to Europe’s great music capitals and prestigious festivals—including stops in The Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain—to inspire audiences with America’s beloved musical genre. Additional tour dates and venues, as well as special guest artists will be announced in early 2018.

NYO Jazz builds on the success of the acclaimed National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) and NYO2, programs created by Carnegie Hall’s WMI in 2013 and 2016, respectively, which bring together the finest young classical musicians from across the country each summer. NYO Jazz aims to be one of the nation’s most distinctive summer jazz programs for student musicians, combining training, performance, and international touring. All three national youth ensemble programs are offered free-of-charge to all participants.

As with NYO-USA and NYO2, NYO Jazz musicians take part in a rigorous two-week training residency at Purchase College, State University of New York, located in Westchester County, just north of New York City, where they will participate in their initial training and rehearsals. In addition to coaching and mentoring by top jazz artists, there will also be side-by-side music-making and artistic collaboration among the ensembles. All rehearsals and training will be centered at the College’s highly-regarded Performing Arts Center and in the rehearsal studios of its School for the Arts Conservatory of Music.

Applications for NYO Jazz are being accepted now. To audition for a position in the ensemble students should complete the online form and submit all required supporting materials, including audition videos by February 1, 2018.