The line up for the 2011 is coming together.  Many young artists will be featured at this years festival, July 15-24, 2011.  We are especially exited about the programing for the Youth and New Generation Stages at Woodbine Park and the free workshops.

There is still time for any music educators to take advantage of our funding for jazz workshops and clinics.
Contact us for more information if you would like to feature a jazz workshop at your school. youthprograms@beachesjazz.com.

Watch the Events Page for upcoming events.

The Beaches was proud to sponsor events for elementary and high school students this spring.  The Non-Traditional Jazz Festival held at Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute was a great success.  Adjudicated by Tania Gill, students from 7 different schools were able to demonstrate their great jazz chops and get some supportive feedback from Tania.  We also had a great time watching Colin Clarke coach the Bur Oak Secondary School Stage Band.  Colin is a great clinician, and the music students had a great day with him.

The Beaches International Jazz Festival Youth Initiatives Program in partnership with Humber Community Music School is proud to announce that the 2011 Youth Jazz in the City Honour Combos have been confirmed:

• Honour Combo A:
  Director: Kirk MacDonald, Michael Gracie (trpt), Liam Masil-Mitro (alto sax), Andrew Marzotto (gtr),
  Holt Stuart-Hitchcox (bass) and Louis Baranyi-Irvine (drms).

• Honour Combo B:
  Director: Ted Quinlan, David Diao (fl), Virginia Frigault-MacDonald (cl), Mark Kazakevich (pno),
  Nick Tateishi (gtr), Jon Chapman (bass) and Davide Corazza (drms).

Honour Combo A began rehearsals in early February.  The group will rehearse approximately every second week through to early July and perform at numerous local events including geature performances at The Next Generation Jazz Festival, The Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, The Beaches Jazz Festival, The Rex Hotel and Chalkers Pub.

Honour Combo B rehearses every second week from mid-April through July and will also perform at various local events including the Beaches Jazz Festival and the Rex Hotel.

For more info go to www.youthjazz.ca.

The Beaches Jazz Festival Youth Initiatives Program in partnership with the Humber College Community Music School is pleased to sponsor an exciting opportunity for youth jazz musicians: Up to 14 students, ages 14-18, from across the GTA will form two combos.  Regular rehearsals will be held in the Music Department at Humber College under the leadership of prominent Canadian Jazz Musicians.  The groups will perform at local events, festivals (including the Beaches International Jazz Festival) and jazz clubs from February through July.  This is a full scholarship opportunity!  Application Deadline is Dec. 11th, 2010.  For application information and audition requirements visit: www.youthjazz.ca

The Jazz Jams continue at the Dominion on Queen (500 Queen St. East), the first and third Sunday of each month from 4-7 pm.  Host Robert Scott will be joined by different guest drummer and bassist each month!  This is a student friendly, all kinds of music jam.  Hope to see you all there!

The Youth Initiatives program is looking for opportunities to sponsor workshops and clinics for high school music students in Toronto.  Read our Letter to Educators for more information.

The Beaches Jazz Festival Youth Initiatives partnered with the Humber College Community School this year to create the Jazz in the City Program (youthjazz.ca).  This pre-professional training program for teenaged musicians gave over 40 of the best and brightest GTA youth musicians the opportunity to study and perform with Canada’s elite jazz musician/educators.  Directed by Kirk MacDonald, the faculty included: Lorne Lofsky, Frank Falco, Kelly Jefferson, Kieran Overs, Brian O’Kane, Barry Romberg and Dave Neill.  The program also formed two Jazz Performance Combos, Combo A and Combo B who toured and performed across the GTA at festivals and Jazz Venues.  The Honour Combos were featured at the Toronto Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival and Markham Jazz Festival and had gigs at The Rex, the Trane Studio and the Dominion on Queen.  These young people showcased their incredible talent and will definitely be the future of Canadian Jazz.

As September approaches we’d like to remind all the music educators out there that the Youth Initiatives Program can offer you help and support in bringing jazz workshops and clinics to your school.  For more information see the Letter to Educators and contact Julie Christian (youthprograms@beachesjazz.com).

The Student Friendly Jazz Jam continues at the Dominion on Queen (500 Queen St. East) on the 1st and 3rd Sunday from 4-7pm.  Hosted by pianist Robert Scott.  Hope to see you there!

This year’s Beaches International Jazz Festival was a huge success.  The weather cooperated and we presented some of the best musicians around!  The Youth Initiatives had a big impact on the Festival once again, with the Youth and New Generation Stages at Woodbine Park, nine free Jazz Workshops, and a terrific contingent of Youth at Streetfest and even the Kew Gardens Main Stage.  Thanks to all the fantastic youth volunteers who helped make having the festival possible.

The Youth Stage featured over 75 high school aged jazz musicians, the New Generation Stage showcased some of Ontario’s best and brightest up and coming professional musicians, while the Youth representatives at Streetfest held their own, attracted huge audiences, sold tons of CDs and were part of the showcase of the wonderful talent that we have in the GTA!  Watch the Media Gallery for lots of new pictures of all the action.