Which SJW program is best for me?
From Giant Steps Day Camp to the Jazz Institute, SJW offers a wide range of summer jazz immersion experiences. You’ll have a great time and you’ll learn tons no matter program you sign up for, but we want to make sure you’ve chosen the program that you think is best for you. You can compare all of our one-week and two-week programs here in the comparison charts below. If you still have questions after going over these handy charts, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 650-736-0324, and we’ll get you set up.
CLICK HERE TO COMPARE OUR 1-WEEK SUMMER JAZZ IMMERSION PROGRAMS
CLICK HERE TO COMPARE OUR 2-WEEK SUMMER JAZZ IMMERSION PROGRAMS
Lifetime Achievement award presented to Remo Belli at Stanford Jazz Festival
The Stanford Jazz Festival and Stanford Jazz Workshop were honored to be part of a special presentation by SJW Festival artist, faculty member, and percussionist Tupac Mantilla. Tupac is beloved by Festival patrons and SJW students alike, with his boundless energy, creativity, and virtuosity. Just prior to the August 1 performance of percussionist John Santos at the Stanford Jazz Festival, Remo Belli, Founder and CEO of Remo, Inc., a world-renowned manufacturer of percussion instruments and products, received Percuaction’s annual Lifetime Achievement Industry Award, presented by Tupac Mantilla, who is himself Artistic Director and CEO of the organization. Having the ceremony at the John Santos performance was not coincidental, as Santos has been a Remo artist for many years.
Please download the attached press release for full details and photos. SJW_Remo_award_2015_final
Jazz Camp Week 2 Showcase schedule and other info
Tonight’s the night! The Jazz Camp Week 3 Showcase will feature nearly 200 rising stars of jazz performing on four stages. How do you find out who is performing on which stage at which time? Download the Jazz Camp Showcase schedule here, then read below to find out how to interpret the schedule.
Here’s how the schedule is organized:
- Jazz Camp participants are listed alphabetically by last name
- The center column indicates combos that rehearse in the early afternoon, which are known as “early combos”
- The right column indicates combos that rehearse in the late afternoon, which are known as “late combos”
- Vocalists will perform in Braun Rehearsal Hall, Room 110, and their performance order is indicated in the center column
The numbers indicate the order in which the combos perform on a particular stage:
- If your combo or vocalist is indicated as “05”, that means they will be the fifth to perform.
- Performances begin at 7 p.m. on Dinkelspiel, Campbell, and Braun Rehearsal Hall; performances on the Outdoor Stage begin at 6 p.m.
- Each performance takes approximately 12 – 15 minutes, so a combo slated to perform fifth on the Dinkelspiel stage would begin at between 8 and 8:15 p.m.
- A combo slated to perform eighth (08) on the Outdoor stage would begin at between 7: 30 and 7:45 p.m.
- Vocal performances take approximately 5 minutes, so a vocalist slated to perform fourth in Braun Rehearsal Hall, Room 110, would begin at approximately 7:15.
Friends and Family Dinner
If you’re purchased tickets for the Friends and Family Dinner, you can pick them up in front of Tresidder Union, directly across from Dinkelspiel Auditorium, at 5:30 p.m.
New this year: Combo photos
Following each combo’s performance, the performers will proceed to our new Photo Station next to Dinkelspiel Auditorium to have a band portrait taken. Photo prints and downloads will be available for sale online following the Showcase.
Master percussionist Tupac Mantilla launches new World Percussion program at Jazz Institute
World percussionist Tupac Mantilla returns to the 2014 SJW Jazz Institute to launch the new World Percussion @ SJW program, an intensive week of percussion study for all musicians interested in making music with drums, hand percussion, mallet instruments, body percussion, and found instruments. In collaboration with Tupac’s percussion organization Percuaction, we’re excited to present a program of world percussion study from the Global Rhythm Institute, which draws on rhythmic traditions from music cultures around the world. Tupac’s curriculum includes classes such as “The African Connection,” “Introduction to Body Percussion,” “A Western Approach to Indian Rhythmic Concepts,” “Latin Percussion,” and “A Choreographic Approach to Rhythm,” among many other topics. In addition to participating in hands-on classes focused on particular styles, you’ll get instruction on a wide variety of instruments, including cajon, djembe, shekere, bongos, congas, bells, shakers, and more. Increase your rhythmic vocabulary and ensemble skills in daily percussion ensemble rehearsals, and show the world your new cross-cultural percussive styles on the main stage at the Jazz Institute Showcase.
Tupac Mantilla has dedicated his life to exploring global rhythms, and he performs with top artists around the world, including Bobby McFerrin, Zakir Hussain, Danilo Perez, Kenny Werner, John Pattitucci, Savion Glover, Steve Smith, John Medeski, Cecil McBee, Jamey Haddad, Julian Lage, and many others. He is the founder and director of the global percussion network Percuaction and has developed with a global team of percussionists the curriculum for Percuaction’s Global Rhythm Institute. Click here to view Tupac’s faculty profile.
No audition is necessary to enroll in World Percussion @ SJW; the program is open to all musicians age 18 or older who have had at least one year of musical instruction. Musicians aged 17 and under may apply but must submit a brief essay describing their musical background and why they want to participate in the World Percussion program.
2014 – 2015 SJW Jazz Mentors Announced
We are thrilled to announce our new SJW Jazz Mentors for the 2014 – 2015 seasons:
- Antonio Madruga, piano
- Daniel Weidlein, saxophone
- Jackson FitzGerald, guitar
- Raviv Markovitz, bass
- Javier Nero, trombone
- JJ Kirkpatrick, trumpet
- John Sturino, drums
This group represents some of the best and brightest emerging artists and jazz educators. Selected from a highly competitive pool of nearly 200 applicants, our SJW Mentors join the Jazz Camp faculty for two years, receiving invaluable teacher training and performance opportunities. Click here to learn more about the SJW Jazz Mentor program.
Congratulations to our new Jazz Mentors!
Jazz strings this summer at SJW
This summer at the Stanford Jazz Workshop we’re pleased to offer a fantastic opportunity for string players of all ages to study jazz in a friendly and stimulating environment on the Stanford University campus. SJW specializes in helping classically-trained musicians learn the creative art of improvisation through small ensemble performance, jazz theory instruction, master classes, and more.
Financial aid is available for students aged 17 and under. Please have your students apply soon, though, as the deadline for financial aid applications is March 24, 2014. For more information on financial aid, click here.
For middle school students, our Jazz Day Camp begins on Monday, July 14, runs through Friday, July 18, and features Grammy-winning jazz violinist Mads Tolling as our string program director. This program has no on-campus overnight accommodations; it’s a day camp only. Click here for more information.
High school students and advanced middle schoolers can attend either or both weeks of Jazz Camp (July 20-25 and July 27 – August 1), where acclaimed performer and educator Victor Lin directs the string program in a fun, supportive environment. Students reside in convenient Stanford University dorm housing and attend the nightly performances at the Stanford Jazz Festival. Click here for more information.
For college students, music educators, adult amateurs, and professionals, the Jazz Institute (August 3 – August 8) provides an immersive experience in which string players can learn from both Mads Tolling and Victor Lin, while also studying with other great artists such as Larry Grenadier, Fred Hersch, George Cables, Chick Corea, Mark Turner, Jeff Ballard, and many more. This program is open to advanced high school musicians aged 17 or under by audition only. Click here for more information.
New after-school program for middle schoolers in Belmont
We’re very excited to announce the launch of a new after-school program for middle school musicians: the SJW Giant Steps Middle School Band.
Directed by Dave Gregoric, and assisted by Steven Lugerner, David Hart, and Joshua Thurston-Milgrom, this fun big band focuses on developing improvisational skills, mastering jazz styles and articulations, and instilling good practice discipline.
Enrollment is open by audition only to any middle school musician currently enrolled in the music program at their school, within driving distance of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.
2014 SJW faculty announced
We’re pleased to announce the premilinary lineup for the 2014 Stanford Jazz Workshop faculty. We’re adding new faculty members every day, so please check our faculty page for detailed profiles and new additions.
Jazz Day Camp
- Kristen Strom (saxophone)
- Dave Gregoric (trombone)
- Josh Thurston-Milgrom (bass)
Jazz Camp
- Sax: Jimmy Heath, Kristen Strom, Lynn Speakman
- Trumpet: David Hart
- Trombone: Dave Gregoric
- Drums: Ndugu Chancler, Tootie Heath
- Percussion: Tupac Mantilla
- Piano: Jeb Patton, Taylor Eigsti, Bennett Paster Joe Gilman, Victor Lin
- Voice: Sandy Cressman, Wendy McCain
- Bass: Josh Thurston-Milgrom, Rob Kohler
- Guitar: Dave Yamasaki, Scott Sorkin
- Strings: Victor Lin
Jazz Institute
- Special presentation: Chick Corea
- Piano: Fred Hersch, George Cables, Taylor Eigsti, Dena DeRose, Benett Paster, Victor Lin
- Drums: Peter Erskine, Jeff Ballard
- Percussion: Tupac Mantilla
- Guitar: Julian Lage
- Bass: Larry Grenadier, Josh Thurston-Milgrom, Rob Kohler, David Wong
- Sax: Jimmy Heath, Mark Turner, Dayna Stephens, Patrick Wolff
- Trumpet: Jeremy Pelt
- Voice: Madeline Eastman, Dena DeRose
Songwriting @ SJW
- Cliff Goldmacher
- Bonnie Hayes
Download the 2025 Brochure
