Jazzfest 2010: July 15–17, 2010

Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues and Augustana College will sponsor the 1st Annual JazzFest Jazz Camp which runs July 12-16 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD.

Performing and visual arts at Augustana College represent the heart of the arts in the Sioux Empire. Augustana’s long-standing tradition of excellence in the arts reaches out to all students — from majors preparing to enter professions as musicians, theatre and visual artists or arts educators, to those simply interested in the arts — and to members of the local community, who can attend multiple performances and exhibits throughout the year.

The award-winning Northlanders Jazz Band of Augustana College will perform with talented student musicians of the JazzFest Jazz Camp band in a finale concert on the Main Stage at JazzFest 2011,which is also the festival’s 20th celebration. Campers will get a backstage visit with JazzFest artists and will be featured on South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s “Best of JazzFest” TV show.

During camp week, JazzFest Jazz Camp will spend time working with Augustana College faculty, guest clinicians, a guest solo artist and others to enhance their talent as both ensemble and solo performers. Students will be engaged in performances such as big-band rehearsals, guest lectures, guest artist master classes, and improvisation classes. And of course, students will also have fun activities thrown in to make camp memorable.

“We want kids to know they are a part of the JazzFest and so having them come out the night before to see the size of park, the stage and of course all the people should be pretty exciting,” Executive Director Robert Joyce said. “The whole idea of the camp is to give young musicians in our region a chance to learn more about jazz and have the chance of a lifetime to perform at one of the biggest festivals in the country. I think they’ll have a lot of great memories from this week of camp.”

At JazzFest Jazz Camp, student musicians will have the opportunity to work along side world renowned trumpet player, guest clinician and artist, Allen Vizzutti. Vizzutti has performed on over 100 movie soundtracks, and his music can be heard on television programs, commercials, and video games. He will be featured with the JazzFest Jazz Camp Big Band and the Augustana College Northlanders Jazz Band on the main stage at JazzFest, Saturday, July 16 at 1:30pm.

Dr. Paul Schilf, Director of Jazz Studies at Augustana College, is the Musical Director for the camp. Other faculty from Augustana College will specialize in areas of jazz instrumentation – brass, saxes, and rhythm section.

“This jazz camp is designed to enhance the student’s school experience by performing high quality literature with detailed, quality instruction,” Schilf said. “As a bonus, the students will have an amazing experience performing with Allen Vizzutti, one of the world’s finest trumpet artists.”

Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues has been awarding music scholarships to outstanding young musicians for the past 11 years and bringing jazz into middle schools through its Jazz Diversity Project for the past 6 years. The addition of the JazzFest Jazz Camp to the list of educational programs organized by Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues gives local students yet another opportunity to learn and grow from the music itself and the rich culture and history behind jazz.

The JazzFest Jazz Camp is sponsored by: Augustana College, CorTrust Bank, Midcontinent Communications, South Dakota Arts Council, Jasper Stone Company, Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues and the Sioux Falls Community Foundation.