UMSL jazz camp to begin July 16

Music students age 13 and older still have time to enroll in the fourth annual Jazz Combo / Improv / Jazz Vocal Camp to be held from Sunday, July 16 to Friday, July 21 at the J.C. Penney Conference Center on the University of Missouri - St. Louis campus.

The camp, directed by UMSL's Jim Widner, will feature music instruction from professional jazz musicians on improv, combo and vocal techniques, including master, theory and specialized classes; jam sessions; and a concluding concert. In addition to Widner, the faculty includes Mike Metheny, Wayne Coniglio, Dave Pietro, Gloria Cooper, Ken Kehner and Miles Vandiver. Participants must have completed at least one year of study on their chosen instrument, and although the minimum age is 13, Widner is quoted as saying that the camp attracts many adults who want to play jazz again or improve their skills, as well as younger students who are just learning.

Registration and auditions will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, and camp sessions will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 17-21. The final concert will be held in the Lee Theater at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 21. Tuition is $299, which includes instruction, master classes, concerts, and lunches. On campus room and board are $140 for the week.

For information and to register, contact Ann Larsen at 314-516-5948 or troutenan@umsl.edu. You can also find out more by reading the press release or visiting UMSL's Web site.