YORK COLLEGE SUMMER JAZZ PROGRAM ʻ11 --AUDITIONS

COLLEGE NOW / CUNY presents

YORK COLLEGE

SUMMER JAZZ PROGRAM ʻ11

July 5 - August 11, 2011

(Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

OVERVIEW
Now in its seventh year, the YORK COLLEGE SUMMER JAZZ PROGRAM (SJP) is a tuition-free, audition-only jazz performance program for upper-level high school students attending New York City public schools.

Students study for six weeks in a near-professional big band environment and receive training and mentoring from professional jazz musicians. Every student receives private lessons and all the supplies necessary (books, etc.) for the program, including lunch vouchers and an MTA card. Upon successful completion, students receive FIVE COLLEGE CREDITS that are transferrable to ANY college-level institution.

After SJP, alumni are invited to return to York College on Saturday afternoons as members of the YORK COLLEGE BLUE NOTES. The York College Blue Notes have performed all over the city (including Mintonʼs Playhouse, the birthplace of bebop) and were finalists for the last two years in the
Charles Mingus High School Competition. Graduates of the York College Blue Notes have been accepted to music programs at Berklee College of Music, City College, the New School, Queens College, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Purchase, and York College.

On February 20, 2011, the York College Blue Notes were featured in the Daily News. http://www.tomzlabinger.com/dailynews.pdf

ELIGIBILITY
Students must be current high school SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS in good standing enrolled in NEW  YORK CITY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

REQUIREMENTS
Students must provide their own instruments (except piano and drums). Students must be able read music and have fundamental facility on their instrument. No jazz experience is necessary. Big band instrumentation (saxes, trumpets, trombones, piano, bass, and drums) will be given priority.

WHAT IS PROVIDED TO STUDENTS BY THE PROGRAM
books / sheet music / metronomes / music stands / SJP '11 shirts / lunch vouchers / MTA cards / and more!

SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES by SJP '11
concert at the Louis Armstrong House in Corona
one road gig (location/time TBA)
final evening concert at the York College Performing Arts Center
graduation ceremony

FACULTY & STAFF
Tom Zlabinger, director/bass faculty
Yoichi Uzeki, piano faculty
Sylvia Cuenca, drum faculty
Matt Koza, sax faculty
Lex Samu, trumpet faculty
John Yao, trombone faculty
Ariel Flores (SJP ʼ07), assistant/piano

CONTACT
Tom Zlabinger, SJP director
tzlabinger@york.cuny.edu / (718) 262-2412

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
http://www.yorkcollegebluenotes.org/
http://www.york.cuny.edu/
http://www.collegenow.cuny.edu/

AUDITIONS
DATE/TIME: Saturdays, May 7 & 14, 2011 @ 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
PLACE: York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11451
REQUIREMENTS: Students must prepare a solo piece of any style that makes them sound their best on their instrument.
Students will also be expected to sight read.


QUOTES
“I remember when the York College Summer Jazz Program started way back in 2005. The band included only one trumpet, a singer, and even a banjo player. Had to be the best group of people I've ever had the pleasure of playing with.”
-Luis Velasquez, SJP ʻ05, trumpet

"The York College Summer Jazz Program was my gateway into musical enlightenment. It was an experience that I am eternally grateful for and continually implement through the music I make today."
-Roland Regos, SJP ʻ06, drums

“Itʼs hard to sum up my feelings toward what is probably the greatest school of music I've ever been a part of. The teachings of Prof. Zlabinger go past music performance and theory. He teaches you how to be a professional and responsible musician working in hectic New York City."
-Steven Bartashev, SJP ʻ08, drums

"In addition to the many blisters and calluses that I have acquired from playing in the York College Blue Notes, I have built countless friendships and musical relationships that will hopefully last for many years. Working with Tom and  the ʻNotes has helped me grow as a musician and it has helped me learn a lot about myself."

-Solomon Cohen, SJP ʻ09, bass

“I find the York College Summer Jazz Program to be most impressive in its intensity, musical diversity and its musical spirituality. Having been involved with a number of such programs worldwide, I have found this program to best prepare students for the real world of jazz performance. I truly recommend it for all NYC public school music students.”

-Wally “Gator” Watson, SJP ʻ09 & ʻ10 drum faculty, Lionel Hampton and Cab Calloway alumnus