Jazz Camp 2025 (For Grades 7 - 12)
June 2-June 20, M-F 9:00 am-1:00 pm
@ Albuquerque Youth Symphony
REGISTRATION OPENS IN FEBRUARY 15:
Slots are limited; no audition necessary
OPEN ADMISSION THROUGH MAY 17, 2025
If you’re interested in learning how to play jazz, then Jazz Camp is for you!
The New Mexico Jazz Workshop’s popular camp will build campers' jazz playing and improvisational skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
At Jazz Camp, you can build your skills and confidence in soloing and music theory. The small group size allows for lots of individual attention. Students will apply theoretical concepts through improvisation, interpretation, arranging, and soloing. Jazz Camp is a great way to improve your skills, make new friends and have a fun time.
Classes are divided by skill level and prior jazz experience is not required. Students are eligible to attend Jazz Camp if they have a minimum of 1 year experience playing an instrument and proficiency with scales. Percussionists must be able to keep rhythm.
Meet the Instructors
A graduate of the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory in Havana, César Bauvallet has over 38 years experience performing in Cuban salsa orchestras. At the age of 17, he began performing nightly in the cabarets of Havana. By his 20's, César was traveling throughout Europe and Latin America with groups such as Manguaré, Orchestra Pacho Alonzo and Grupo Guaicán. Other groups of which he was a member included Orchestra Cubana de Música Moderna and Orchestra del Teatro Sauto. Since 1977, César has also worked steadily as a studio musician in Cuba (EGREM) and more recently in New Mexico. Some of his other musical accomplishments include being chosen by Arturo Sandoval as trombonist for Dizzy Gillespie's All-Star Orchestra (Havana Jazz Festival, 1989) and performing with renowned Puerto Rican cuatro player Yomo Toro (Albuquerque, NM, 1994). In addition to Son Como Son, César performs regularly on trombone, congas and keyboards with a variety of local bands including the jazz ensemble Tetragon, the Caribbean mix band Pandemonium, and the theatrical band A Slice of Life . He is also a member of Tá-Bení, an Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble which specializes in demonstrating the highly complex rhythms of the Batá drums and Rumba.
Asher Barreras grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has enjoyed playing and studying music for over 25 years. He started on the violin and studied many of the string and percussion instruments including: bass, cello, guitar, piano, and drums. He also studied music and bass at the Conservatori de Liceu in Barcelona, Spain, under professor Horacio Fumero from 2008-2009. Asher received his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies, training in music and bass performance under professor Lynn Seaton and Jeff Bradetich at the University of North Texas, cum laude 2010. He has been a professional traveling musician, teacher, and composer for close to 17 years. After living in New York City and Cundy’s Harbor, Maine, he returned home to ABQ where he host the Ben Michael’s jam every Tuesday night and plays bass with all the greats in and around his hometown.
Free summer programs for Bernalillo County elementary students
Enjoy a free music program this summer at either Westside Community Center (1250 Isleta Blvd SW, 87105) or the Los Padillas Community Center ( 7 Los Padillas Rd SW 87105)!
Professional musicians teach the fun 7-week program, plus we bring all the gear!
Finish up the summer with a recital for friends and family!
Roots of Jazz
What is Roots of Jazz?
Roots of Jazz is a one-hour assembly designed to teach students about the origins of jazz music.
Musician and music educator, Frank Leto, backed by a jazz quartet and a dancer, keeps audiences wide-eyed with lively demonstrations of music from Africa, Cuba, Brazil, and the United States. The music is neatly woven into a fabric of historical narrative, highlighting the cultural blending that has made jazz such a uniquely American art form.
How do students experience Roots of Jazz?
On a first-come first-serve basis, we schedule 10 free assemblies throughout the academic year.
We have served almost every Albuquerque Public Elementary School over our history, but we encourage schools that have never hosted the presentation or haven't scheduled it in a while to give us a call.
How do I bring Roots of Jazz to my school?
Contact our Education Coordinator, Krystian at
