Wayne State University Department of Music and Detroit International Jazz Festival Partner to Host First JazzWeek@Wayne for Area Youth

DETROIT, MI (June 20, 2007) – Beginning in 2007, the Wayne State University Department of Music embarked on a long-term partnership with the Detroit International Jazz Festival, serving as their Educational Advisor. Jazz Week@Wayne, one result of this collaboration, will be held on Wayne’s campus July 23 – 26. This one-week workshop will provide forty high school students with an intensive and rewarding jazz education. All participants, selected from surrounding high schools, were awarded full scholarships to attend the program, which concludes with a performance at Campus Martius on Friday, July 27 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

JazzWeek@Wayne is a historic initiative for Detroit, combining the artistic and educational forces of two jazz entities, the Detroit International Jazz Festival and the Wayne State University Department of Music. The Detroit Jazz Fest, a long-time supporter of jazz education, and WSU committed to an innovative collaboration that will support the area’s talented young musicians. “Given that WSU has one of the oldest and most respected jazz studies programs in the country and that WSU is Detroit\'s hometown university, it is only natural that Wayne is the Educational Advisor to the Detroit JazzFest, as well as home to the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Star Youth ensemble” states Prof. Christopher Collins, Director of WSU’s Jazz Studies program. The selection of JazzWeek participants began in April of this year with on-site auditions at area high schools, including Detroit School of Arts, Detroit Renaissance High School, as well as at the 2007 Clintondale Jazz Festival and an open audition on Wayne’s campus on May 5. More than 65 students were heard by WSU Jazz Faculty and 40 were selected, based off their outstanding musicality, to participate at the first annual JazzWeek@Wayne. Invitations to attend JazzWeek were extended to students from eighteen area schools, including Anchor Bay High School (Fair Haven), Annapolis High School (Dearborn Heights), Clawson High School (Clawson), Clintondale High School (Clinton Township), Cousino High School (Warren), Detroit School of Arts (Detroit), Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music/Performing Arts (Detroit), Franklin High School (Livonia), Grosse Ile High School (Grosse Ile) , Holmes Middle School (Livonia), Huron High School (New Boston), International Academy (Bloomfield Hills), L’Anse Creuse High School (Harrison Township), Mt. Clemens High School (Mt. Clemens), Renaissance High School (Detroit), Trenton High School (Trenton), Troy High School (Troy), and Warren Mott High School (Warren).

Guided by WSU’s faculty and guest artists from the 2007 Detroit International Jazz Festival, students will study jazz improvisation, theory, and ensemble playing. They will have an opportunity to work in master class settings, jam sessions, and small and large ensemble rehearsals with WSU Jazz Faculty Christopher Collins (Director, Jazz Studies Program and Woodwind player), Russell Miller (ensemble director and Woodwind player) and Rob Pipho (instrumental jazz and improvisation), as well guest artists David Taylor (percussion), Marion Hayden (bass) and 2007 Detroit Jazz Festival artist Conrad Herwig (trombone).

JazzWeek will culminate in two public performances. On Friday, July 27 JazzWeek participants will perform at Campus Martius Park in Downtown Detroit as part of the Park’s Fourth Friday Music Series, co-sponsored by the WSU College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. Outstanding JazzWeek students will be selected for a position in the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Star Youth ensemble. All-Star members will be publicly announced at the July 27 performance by guests from the Detroit Jazz Festival, and the All-Star Youth ensemble will perform on a main stage at the 2007 Detroit International Jazz Festival (day and time to be announced).

For additional information on JazzWeek@Wayne visit www.music.wayne.edu/jazzweek.php. For additional information on the 2007 Detroit Jazz Festival visit www.detroitjazzfest.com.