The UC San Diego Jazz Camp is looking to recruit more girls into its ranks. The five-day summer program will hold a free concert featuring female Jazz Camp alumni. The special Young Lions Series performance will be on March 9 at Panama 66 in Balboa Park at 6 p.m.
“I’ve never been happy about the low number of girls and women in Jazz Camp,” said Dan Atkinson, the founder and director of Jazz Camp. “I’ve questioned directors of similar programs, and, unfortunately, there are a lot fewer women than men at the camps. Maybe part of it is the old image of jazz as a ‘guy thing.’ I’d love to end that perception.”
Atkinson with award-winning trumpet player and Jazz Camp instructor Gilbert Castellanos for the free concert to inspire more girls to join by showcasing some for the best female talent that has come out of the program, including Angelica Pruitt, Serena Geroe, Jenna Stevens, Abby Pragar, Natalie Kanga and Joice Caci.
The renewed focus on bringing girls to the camp will not only boost the confidence of girls but will also strengthen and grow the genre renowned jazz flutist and Jazz Camp instructor Holly Hofmann explained.
The aim of the Young Lions Series is to showcase young jazz musicians and give them an opportunity to perform at some of San Diego’s best venues.
The Jazz Camp, in its 14th year, runs from June 19 to 25, and is aimed at intermediate to advanced musicians aged 14 to adult. Participants receive private and small group instruction and three continuing education credits from UCSD.
Instructors include Castellanos, Hofmann, Charles McPherson, Mike Wofford, Peter Sprague, Rob Thorsen, Joshua White, Myra Melford and many others. The camp will also feature instructor Grace Kelly, a jazz saxophonist and rising star who is also a member of The Colbert Late Show Band under Jon Batiste. The deadline to apply for this summer’s Jazz Camp is May 23.
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For more information go to the Jazz Camp's website.
