• By Mabel Pais

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the state’s anchor cultural institution, celebrates 27 years of offering thousands of high schoolers from Newark and beyond, music lessons and performance experiences through its popular ‘JAZZ FOR TEENS’ program. One of the first of many arts education institutions at NJPAC, it has grown into a nationally recognized and revered program producing stellar alumni such as MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Tyshawn Sorey.

The 2024-25 school year is about to begin and is now accepting students for both the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. Registration is now open and closes Sep 23.

‘Jazz for Teens’ is a comprehensive and sequential jazz education program that provides access to top-notch musical training and study with world-class working artists, opportunities for artistic exchange within the community, and college and career exploration.

This school year offers a new program “Business of the Music Business” with class topics including: financial wellness and budgeting; contracting; marketing and publicity; production and more. Classes include jazz history, theory/composition, technique, ensembles, and more. Prospective college students are guided through the application process. Students are given many performance opportunities as members of the James Moody Jazz Orchestra and/or George Wein Scholars Ensemble (performing at the Newport Jazz Festival). All students record their own compositions together in a studio setting. Field trips to Rutgers University-Newark’s remarkable Institute of Jazz Studies, the largest archive of jazz-related materials in the world, are regular treats for students.

Since 2015, ‘Jazz for Teens’ has been at the helm of Mark Gross, the Director of Jazz Instruction for NJPAC. A multiple GRAMMY-winning alto sax player and composer, Gross has performed and recorded with a roster of greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, Buster Williams, Nat Adderley, Dave Holland, Wynton Marsalis, and more. In addition to Gross, a roster of more than a dozen working jazz musicians including saxophonist Wayne Escoffery and guitarist Alex Wintz (himself an alumnus of the program) as well as celebrated percussionist Alvester Garnett and acclaimed, Russian-born trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, a Jazz Messenger, to name a few — make up the ‘Jazz for Teens’ faculty.  Even more bold-faced names, including eight-time GRAMMY-winning bassist Christian McBride, the Arts Center’s Jazz Advisor, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, and MacArthur “Genius” and Doris Duke Artist award winner Regina Carter offer master classes, working directly with students.

PROGRAM

When: Fall Semester: Oct 5–Dec 14, 2024; Spring Semester: Jan 25-May 17, 2025, 10:00am-5:00pm (schedules vary)

Where: New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Colton Institute for Research and Training in the Arts, 24 Rector Street, Newark, NJ, 07102.

Who: Student musicians ages 13-18.

Registration and Fees: Registration is required.

For more information and Fee Schedule, visit NJPAC.org/education or call 973.353.7058. Scholarships and/or financial aid are available.

Arts Education @ NJPAC

Learn more at NJPAC.org/education

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

Follow NJPAC Online:

Website:   njpac.org

Twitter:    @NJPAC

Instagram:  @NJPAC

Hashtag:   #NJPAC

Facebook:   facebook.com/NJPAC

YouTube:    NJPACtv

Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

Website: njpac.org/takeastand

Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand

Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Social Issues, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)