We are organizing summer jazz courses for youth!
Together with Østnorsk Jazzsenter and Kråkstad Jazz, we are now organizing summer jazz courses for young people in July!
- It is a great honor to finally be able to announce that we are extending our festival by inviting young musicians from all over the country to a week-long jazz course.
– Ragnhild Menes, festival director of the Kongsberg Jazz Festival.
- Of course, the jazz course will take place where all of jazz Norway gathers every year at the beginning of July – in Kongsberg!
– Kari Grete Jacobsen, general manager of the Eastern Norwegian Jazz Center.
Eastern Norwegian Jazz Center og Kråkstad Jazz has, with support from Savings bank foundation DNB og Young Music, developed a nationwide jazz course offering for young musicians aged 14 to 20 years. In the summer of 2025, the entire jazz course, with skilled teachers and eager course participants, will be moved to Buskerud Folk High School. This will be the start of a long-term professional collaboration with Kongsberg Jazz Festival.
We will also, as usual, offer parade workshop during the festival week for children and young people between the ages of 9 and 18. The summer jazz course is a focused offer for young musical talents from all over the country, and comes in addition to our traditional parade workshop leading up to the festival opening.
Who teaches?
The teaching program is led by three solid freelance musicians with extensive experience in teaching, performing and jazz pedagogy. The jazz course will also be visited by guest teachers during the course week.
Saxophonist Shannon Mowday has for many years composed for and led large jazz ensembles and big bands, trumpets Gunnar Halle is a permanent jazz teacher at Kråkstad Jazz and Nordre Follo Cultural School and tuba teacher Steffen Granly is a county musician in Trøndelag and producer for two young jazz ensembles in Eastern Norway.
Who is the course for?
The jazz course is suitable for young musicians who are hungry to learn more about playing together in big bands, and about improvising, continues The course is suitable for both beginners, and for those who already have some experience with jazz and improvisation. Our goal is to bring together up to thirty young people with a strong interest in music for an intense week with a safe framework for interaction and individual development.
Participation and registration
The jazz course is open to participants from all over the country in the age group of 14 to 20 years, and absolutely all instruments are welcome. Participation includes tuition and accommodation with all meals at Buskerud Folkehøgskole from Monday 7th to Saturday 12th July. Registration form and practical information are available at Jazzcourse.noThe deadline for registration is Friday, February 14, 2025.
