High School Jazz Academy

October 2024–May 2025

The High School Jazz Academy (HSJA) offers instrumental jazz instruction to high school students in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT). Students have the opportunity to enhance their musical education with the finest professional training and performance opportunities. The program runs weekly in the Irene Diamond Education Center at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. During weekly sessions students learn repertoire and performance techniques from a faculty comprised of accomplished jazz musicians as well as members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

HSJA meets weekly from September through May. HSJA ensembles perform regularly throughout the year in the Ertegun Atrium at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club and other venues throughout New York City.

HSJA students and their families may receive complimentary tickets to attend performances and educational events at Jazz at Lincoln Center to supplement this unique jazz immersion experience.

Applications for HSJA 2024-2025 have been closed.  Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Catch all the High School Jazz Academy ensembles opening for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Big Band Holidays concerts for FREE in the Atrium.

December 18
Pre-Concert Performance
6:00-6:45pm: Jazz Academy Workshop Band
Intermission Performance
7:45-8:00pm: Jimmy Blanton Combo with Vocalists Clara Garcia-Gallet and Kofi Boakye Agyumang

December 19
Pre-Concert Performance
6:30-7:15pm: Jazz Academy Big Band
Intermission Performance
8:15-8:30pm: Milt Jackson Combo with Vocalist Katharine Kelly

December 20
Pre-Concert Performance
6:30-7:15pm: Jazz Academy Studio Ensemble
Intermission Performance
8:15-8:30pm: Mary Lou Williams Combo with Vocalist Alex Guerrero

December 21
Pre-Concert Performance
6:00-7:00pm: Jazz Academy Youth Orchestra
Intermission Performance
8:15-8:30pm: Fats Navarro Combo with Vocalist Harrison McKenna

December 22
Pre-Concert Performance
12:30-2:00pm: Charlie Parker Combo

We are now receiving applications for the 2024–2025 High School Jazz Academy. Please submit your application by Monday, June 10th, 2024.

Scales: Play chromatic and 3 major scales (two octaves, major keys chosen by the adjudicators)

Sight-read: All students will sight-read selected material within their respective sections.

Improvisation: All students will improvise over a blues (concert F, Bb, or Eb) and rhythm changes (concert Bb) progressions with a rhythm section.

Rhythm section: Piano and guitar players should be prepared to comp changes for blues and rhythm changes in addition to improvising.
Bass players will be expected to walk a bass line and improvise over those chord progressions.
Drummers will play time and improvise along with a rhythm section and demonstrate ability with brushes as well as sticks.

Students are placed in ensembles and classes appropriate to their level. All High School Jazz Academy weekly Sunday activities take place between 12pm and 7pm. All HSJA students take Jazz Language and at least one ensemble; an average HSJA student will be at Jazz at Lincoln Center for 3–4 hours.