Portsmouth, NH-October 30, 2008:  Jazz Vermont, Band Camp for Grownups, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009.  In honor of this event, Jazz Vermont will be awarding two full scholarships to interested participants.  One will be awarded to a trumpet player and one will be awarded to a saxophone player.  Jazz Vermont 2009 will be held at the Grand Summit Resort at Mt. Snow in West Dover, VT, July 12-17th, 2009.  It will feature 7 bands: 3 big bands, 3 nonets and an octet.  This year's guest artists include tenor saxophone great, Jerry Bergonzi; Lionel Hampton alumnus, Vinnie Cutro on trumpet and Berklee Professor and Ray Charles Alumnus, Jeff Galindo on trombone.  The participants rehearse 6 hours a day, attend improvisation workshops and jam until 12:30 a.m.  There are three concerts during the week: the staff concert, the guest artist concert and the final public concert where the participants perform.  The value of each scholarship is $1374.00.

 

Scholarship details:  In order to participate in the scholarship contest, a person must be over the age of 21, be a first timer at camp and play either the trumpet or saxophone.  Those signing up for camp before the scholarship is awarded are included in the contest (any payments will be credited back to them if they win).  Those already on our mailing list are included in the contest. The award will be made on April 15, 2009.  In order to register for the contest, participants should go to the Jazz Vermont website, www.jazzcamp.com  and register for the Jazz Vermont mailing list.  The award will be made on the basis of a random drawing.  The selected participant must be able to attend in 2009.  The decision of the winners is final and at the discretion of Jazz Vermont.  Winners and the media will be notified by e-mail.

Jazz Vermont, the 5 1/2 day Band Camp for Grownups was conceived by Byron Siegal in 1984.  After a stint directing the Vermont Law School Community Jazz Ensemble, Siegal realized that a Big Band fantasy camp which combined music and a Vermont resort would attract musicians for a week of sun, practice, jamming and plain fun with other like minded musicians.  Under the direction of Siegal and guidance of JV's professional educators and guest artists, Jazz Vermont is still going strong after 25 years and looking forward to its next 25.