Jazz in July Summer Program Shifts Online, Registration Opens Thursday, June 25

Jazz in July wordmark

For 39 years, the Jazz in July summer music program at the UMass Fine Arts Center has fostered a multigenerational learning environment that allows participants to grow and thrive as jazz musicians. Since the in-person version of the program cannot happen this summer due to COVID-19 restrictions, a one-week, online-only version of Jazz in July will take place Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24. Registration opens Thursday, June 25.

Jazz in July’s 2020 online faculty includes Jeff Holmes and Steve Davis for brass; Earl MacDonald and Luis Perdomo for piano; Avery Sharpe and Fumi Tomita for bass; Winard Harper and Steve Johns for drums; Bob Ferrier for guitar; Felipe Salles and Bruce Diehl for saxophone; and Cathy Jensen Hole for vocals.

Participants of the online Jazz in July program will participate in daily morning group lectures by the program’s faculty followed by afternoon breakout sessions by instrumentation or discipline. In order to maintain the program’s uniquely intimate learning experience, registrations will be limited by instrumentation or discipline. For access to the full five-day program, registration is $180; tuition assistance supported by Jazz in July donors is available by request.

Detailed program requirements, a daily schedule, faculty bios and access to the online application are all available on at jazzinjuly.com.

On Friday, July 24, the public will be invited to tune in for special presentations by guest artists covering various aspects of the jazz field between noon and 4:30 p.m. These presentations are free and open to the public and will be available via the Fine Arts Center’s Facebook page. More details about these guest artists will be announced soon. Check jazzinjuly.com and our Facebook page for updates.