A-JAM Auditions Coming Up! Monday, November 21, 2016

Mark your calendar! Auditions for the 2016/2017 A-JAM mentorship program will be held the Monday of Thanksgiving week, November 21, 2016 from 5-7 PM in Rehearsal Hall 152 of the Palmetto Center for the Arts at Northwest Vista College. 

Auditions are by appointment only, so contact us to schedule yours today. For the audition, prepare two contrasting jazz pieces of your choice. Bring three copies of your written music. You will also be asked to play major/minor scales and do some sight-reading.

Judges include two of San Antonio's finest jazz musicians, Rene Saenz and Richard Oppenheim. 

Check into the A-JAM Facebook page for up-to-the-minute news and tips.

Contact program director Dr. Katchie Cartwright at 210-486-4828 to schedule your appointment and answer any questions you may have.

A-JAM Group Records at KRTU Studios

San Antonio College student guitarist Francis Stromboe, A-JAM's 2016 honoree and mentorship program apprentice, leads his student combo in a recording date at KRTU studios on the campus of Trinity University on Friday, June 3, 2016. The group will perform a selection of jazz standards, and then be interviewed by station manager JJ Lopez for later broadcast on the station's South Texas Jazz Project show.

The combo includes Michael Segura on drums from St. Mary's University, Ignacio Salazar on bass from San Antonio College, Hugo Funes on trumpet from UTSA, and Fernando Munoz Jr. on sax, also from UTSA.

Sitting in on the ensemble as colleagues and peer mentors will be A-JAM alumni Odie Wallace (drums, bass) and Thomas Mullins (trombone, guitar). Odie Wallace went to Denmark as part of the A-JAM program, and Thomas participated in the international meeting in Lisbon in 2015.

Saxophonist and Alamo Colleges instructor Morgan King will be coaching the group this year, and will be accompanying Francis Stromboe to the annual jazz intensive sponsored by the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), to be held in Boston later this month, hosted by the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.

Many thanks to all who have supported the program this year, including the Alamo  Colleges office of International Programs, the music department of St Mary's University, Northwest Vista College department of Fine and Performing Arts & Kinesiology, and Trinity University's KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM. Stay tuned for air dates...

A-JAM to Participate in IASJ World Jazz Meeting 2016

We've just received word from the IASJ (International Association of Schools of Jazz) that our 2016 A-JAM honors student, guitarist Francis Stromboe (San Antonio College), and faculty mentor, saxophonist Morgan King, have been selected to participate in the 2016 IASJ world jazz meeting, to be held this year at Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston from June 26 through July 1, 2016. One week of intensive performing, rehearsing, and learning with top jazz students and faculty from all over the world. Congratulations to all!

To learn more about the IASJ, watch this inspiring video from Irish bassist-composer Ronan Guilfoyle, founding IASJ member and head of the Jazz Degree program at Newpark Music Centre in Dublin.  For the story of the International Association of Schools of Jazz, check out Artistic Director and NEA Jazz Master David Liebman's site.

 And speaking of Berklee, annual regional auditions are held at Northwest Vista College's Palmetto Center for the Arts on February 19. Go to palmettoarts.org for more information.

"Breaking the Barrier" - Francis Stromboe Receives Top A-JAM Honors

"...being a part of A-JAM and all the opportunities it will present will help me break the barrier of technicality and find my inner voice." (Francis Stromboe)

A-JAM auditions were held the week before Thanksgiving, with San Antonio's top jazz students competing, and several of our finest professional jazz musicians adjudicating; Morgan King, Rene Saenz, and Richard Oppenheim. As always, the decisions are tough and we are pleased to announce the results. The three student finalists this year were Roberto Alaniz (bass) from Northwest Vista College, Nikkei Flores (saxophone) from San Antonio College, and Estevan Hernandez (saxophone) from Northwest Vista College. Top honors for the 2016/2017 academic year go to Francis Stromboe (guitar) from San Antonio College. Thanks to our three judges, and congratulations to Francis and our three finalists!

Francis Stromboe (guitar, SAC) 

When asked about his musical background, Stromboe replied, "I was born on March 22, 1992 in San Antonio Texas. I got my first guitar at the age of eleven and haven’t put it down since then. I learned to read music by joining the John Jay Marching Band my freshman year of high school. During my time at John Jay I was actively participating with the drum line, percussion section, as well as the John Jay Jazz Band in which I played guitar and where I was initially introduced to playing jazz. I'm currently seeking an associates degree in music at San Antonio Community College and taking electric bass lessons with Jim Kalson. "

Why did Stromboe audition for A-JAM, and what does he hope to gain from the experience? "I auditioned for A-JAM for several reasons, but one of the main reasons was to get out of my comfort zone and force myself to dive into a new realm of music. This program is a great way to get out and collaborate with new and diverse musicians. Another reason I auditioned is because I hope to participate in the IASJ meeting at Berklee in Boston next year that will present great opportunities for me to gain knowledge of improvising and the universal language of jazz. I believe being a part of A-JAM and all the opportunities it will present will help me break the barrier of technicality and find my inner voice."

Stay tuned as the spring 2016 semester begins and A-JAM activities get underway. Exciting events are in the wings, including a live radio broadcast for Trinity University's KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM and the 2016 international jazz meeting of the IASJ (International Association of Schools of Jazz), to be held this year in Boston at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.   

 

Artist-Teacher from Tel Aviv to Present Master Class in Jazz Harmony - Tuesday, Nov 17, 2015

Our A-JAM program is part of a global network of jazz artists, students, and teachers that fosters intercultural collaboration at a very high level through the IASJ (International Association of Schools of Jazz). Opportunities made possible by participation in the organization's global jazz meetings extend far beyond the one-week jazz intensives held in June, which are hosted in a different country each year. Ask any A-JAM alum who has been there: Jeané Gaines (Brazil), Stephen Bennett (Austria), Odie Wallace (Denmark), and--most recently--Thomas Mullins (Portugal). Relationships forged in these global jazz meetings, and in the A-JAM program in general, can continue and blossom throughout one's life as a musician. And, hey, don't forget: It could be YOU next year! Here's a case in point... Through our association with two IASJ member schools in Israel, the Rimon School of Jazz & Contemporary Music in Tel Aviv, and the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, we are fortunate to welcome Dr. Arnon Palty to Northwest Vista College for an exclusive master class on jazz harmony. Read his short bio below to see some of the interesting and fun things he's been up to. The event is free and open to the public. Mark your calendars now. You won't want to miss it.   Tuesday, November 17, 2015 / 2 PM / Recital Hall 107 of Palmetto Center for the Arts at Northwest Vista College / Admission Free Palty Arnon, Dr.

Bassist / Composer / Arranger / Theorist Dr. Arnon Palty is a graduate of Berklee School of music (B.A.) and  Manhattan School of music (M.A. in Jazz composition and arranging), and holds a Ph.D. degree with highest distinction from Bar Ian University for his research on jazz harmony. Additional studies include bass with Jeff Andrews, harmony with Hal Galper and Mark Levine and composition with Dr. Boaz Ben-Moshe and Reuven Seroussi. Arnon has performed with Jazz greats such as Dave Liebman, Benny Golson, Didier Lockwood, Lee Koniזz, Lewis Porter, Terri-Lyne Carrington, Airto Moreira, Jeremy Davenport, Dave Douglas, Donald "Duck" Bailey, Norbert Stachell, The Grateful Dead/Blues project reunion, with British progressive rock band "Ordinary Listeners"; and arranged, played, and recorded for countless Israeli artists.   Arnon teaches bass, arranging, traditional and jazz harmony, advanced ear training, ensembles, bass history and highly popular survey classes such as "The Music of Frank Zappa," "The Music of  The Beatles," and more. Dr. Palty was chairman of the Bass Dept. at Rimon School of Jazz & Contemporary Music for 14  years. He was Assistant Director for the years 1994-1996 and  is the recipient of "The outstanding Rimon lecturer award"  for the academic year 2008-2009. As well as Rimon, Dr. Palty teaches at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and at Ono Academic College School of Music.

"What Dreams Are Made Of" - Thomas Mullins' Summer Abroad Experience

Thomas Mullins spent one intensive life-changing week abroad this summer as the 2015 A-JAM delegate to the prestigious international jazz meeting of the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), held this year in Lisbon, Portugal. It was the 25th anniversary of unique global jazz meeting, and an unforgettable experience for all involved. Hosted by a different member school each year, students, teachers, and school representatives from all over the world gather to learn, perform, exchange ideas, and generally live and breathe jazz. Fresh from the trip, Mullins shared some of his insights and experiences.

"My participation in at 25^th annual IASJ Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal was unlike anything else I’ve experienced in all my life.  The sights of the city were like stepping into a postcard.  Everyone involved was unbelievably welcoming, eager to share their friendship and love of music.  There, I met people from all corners of the world, brought together by the uniting force of music.  I had the privilege of talking with David Liebman, founder of the program.  When I commented on what an amazing experience he has provide to all with talented students and educators he responded, 'Good people, great music.  Where else are you going to get this?'”

"I would be lying if I said I wasn’t overwhelmed at times," Mullins continued.  "There I was, far from home, surrounded by unfamiliar sights and faces.  I would leave the master classes feeling as though I knew nothing about music.  I would leave rehearsals thinking we would never make the deadline.  My mind was constantly screaming, “Fight or flight!” (Given that the flight was a literal 19 hour flight, fight it was.)  I would find myself questioning my abilities and my right to participate with these caliber of musicians, but through my conversations and experiences with my fellow students, I learned that I wasn’t alone.  And that was the beauty of it all.  None of us were truly alone, despite what we felt at times.  We were together in our pursuits, ambitions, struggles, and triumphs.  The international meeting is what dreams are made of."

Thomas Mullins, a 2015 graduate of Northwest Vista College, entered the UTSA music program with a full scholarship in composition in fall 2015. A student of classical guitarist Dan Smith, he auditioned on guitar. He studies trombone and improvisation with Armin Marmolejo of Palo Alto College. As a composer, Mullins received a Jack Stone Award for New Music in 2013, while at Northwest Vista College.

 

 

   

 

 

Mark Your Calendar! A-JAM Auditions - Week Before Thanksgiving, Nov 16-19

Audition to become part of the 2016 A-JAM program! Make your appointment today. Auditions are the week before Thanksgiving. That's Nov 16-19, 2015. Call Katchie Cartwright at 210-486-4828 for more information or to schedule your audition. Check our Facebook page for breaking news...

Auditions are open to all fulltime students at any of the five Alamo Colleges and Trinity University.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of a college-level course in improvisation. You can be taking one this term, provided you pass the course. :-) If you're not currently enrolled, try to enroll in MUAP 1185: Private Improvisation for Flex II. There are multiple instructors for this course on multiple campuses within the Alamo Colleges system. Contact your music department chair or discipline coordinator for more information.

This year's IASJ international jazz meeting will be hosted by the exciting and relatively new Berklee Global Jazz Institute. One lucky student will get to participate in this life-changing intercultural experience. It could be you this year!

 

Remember...

Auditions for the A-JAM program are held annually--the week before Thanksgiving--by appointment only. To join A-JAM in the spring term, you must have successfully completed a basic course in improvisation, which is offered in the fall semester. Contact Katchie for further information on A-JAM audition requirements and dates.

Prepare: 2 contrasting jazz pieces of your choice

Bring: 3 copies of your written music (lead sheets, C-concert)

Scales/arpeggios: Major and minor, all keys

Sightreading: chordal (lead sheet), rhythmic, and melodic