INTERNATIONAL YoUTH BIG BAND CAMP 2023

with Kathrine Windfeld


Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, The Royal Academy of Music and Jazzfabrikken are proud to present International Youth Big Band Camp 2023 with conductor, composer and pianist Kathrine Windfeld. The camp takes place from July 11th-14th and runs concurrently with Aarhus Jazz Festival 2023. Age group: 18-26 year-olds and students.

For the camp, we put together some of Europe’s greatest, young jazz talents for a youth big band at academy level. We are looking for 4 trumpeters, 4 trombonists, 5 saxophonists, 1 guitarist, 1 bassist, 1 pianist and 1 drummer. During International Youth Big Band Camp 2023, the afternoons will consist of rehearsals and concert with Kathrine Windfeld, and the mornings feature workshops with musicians from Aarhus Jazz Orchestra. We offer a unique opportunity to play in a youth big band at the very highest level in a professional environment, where you are allowed to meet and play with other budding jazz talents from all over Europe.

International Youth Big Band Camp 2023 is one of several initiatives from Jazzfabrikken. Jazzfabrikken is a 3-year regional development project started in 2019, which will contribute to strengthening the musical food chain and talent development in rhythmic music. The project has a special focus on talent development at all levels and is a collaborative project between Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, The Royal Academy of Music and Aarhus Music School. In addition, the project is supported by Region Midtjylland.

Application due is May 12th (please see below).

Come and join this summer's coolest big band community!


When and where?

International Youth Big Band Camp will take place from July 11th-14th 2023 at The Royal Music Academy in Aarhus and Musikhuset Aarhus. The schedule consists of three morning workshops, three afternoon rehearsals and one concert.

Tuesday, July 11th
16.00: Arrival and welcome
17.00-21.00: Rehearsal (The Royal Academy of Music, Musikhuset Aarhus)

Wednesday, July 12th
9.00-12.00: Workshop (TBA)
13.00-17.00: Rehearsal (The Royal Academy of Music, Musikhuset Aarhus)

Thursday, July 13th
9.00-12.00: Workshop (TBA)
13.00-17.00: Rehearsal (The Royal Academy of Music, Musikhuset Aarhus)

Friday, July 14th
12.00-15.00: Sound check and rehearsal
15.00-16.00: Concert, Musikhuset Aarhus

As participant in International Youth Big Band Camp 2023, you are expected to participate in all rehearsals, workshops and concerts. At all other times, you are free to explore the many activities of the city and Aarhus Jazz Festival.

Price
Participating in International Youth Big Band Camp is free. However, you must arrange transport to and from Aarhus yourself, as well as food and lodging during the days in question in Aarhus.

Age group: 18-26 year-olds and students.

How can I join?

To be considered for International Youth Big Band Camp 2023, you must fill out an application form which contains various elements. You must submit a written application, record yourself playing your instrument on video, upload the video to YouTube (possibly as a hidden link) and insert the YouTube link into the application form. It is OK to record video on your phone, if the sound is of a reasonably good quality.

1) Written motivation application ½ - 1 A4 page (2400 characters)

Feel free to start with the following questions:

  • What is your experience of playing in a big band?

  • What is your motivation for applying?

  • What do you want to achieve by participating in International Youth Big Band Camp?

Scope: ½ to 1 A4 page (1200-2400 characters)

2) VIDEO 1: Music of own choosing

This video should contain melody playing and very much like improvisation, and for the rhythm group, "comp" should be played. You can, for example, choose a jazz standard, a pop / rock piece with a solo or similar. You are welcome to play with other musicians in the video, but it is also OK just to play with a backing track. It is important that you can hear both the applicant and the backing track or other musicians in the video.

3) VIDEO 2: Bigband music / assigned part

In this video, please play the assigned part in the big band you are applying for. You must play to the audio file located in the music folder, which can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WGtmDIn5dDshgUd0VKEgD2ds0BpkPTW7?usp=share_link

You can listen to the piece here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6goyvnKmafH9ZJSDIeJd20?si=17c4896ec8ed4af1

Here it is not necessary that we can hear the audio file in your recording.

Follow this link for the formal application: https://forms.gle/qsAM3TgFVRt7BB6x5


Application due is May 12th

You will be notified if you have been admitted by May 26th

 

Kathrine Windfeld

The Guardian (UK) describes Kathrine Windfeld‘s compositions as a rare combination of delicacy and strength: A colorful meeting of sophisticated harmonic passages, driving grooves and poetic ballads that float into her explosive arrangements.

With her highly acclaimed four big band releases AIRCRAFT (2015), LATENCY (2017), ORCA (2020) and DETERMINATION (2021) Kathrine Windfeld’s name has quickly exceeded the borders of her Scandinavian home, leading to countless awards and raving reviews in international publications like Downbeat (USA), Le Monde (F) and Jazzthing (DE).

Kathrine Windfeld has collaborated with top class orchestras like Frankfurt Radio Big Band (DE), Swedish Bohuslän Big Band and Danish Radio Big Band (DK).

Her ambitious work has also inspired international greats such as Mike Stern, Seamus Blake and Gilad Hekselman to share stage with her.

In 2020, as the only European jazz musician, she won the prestigious ”Rising Stars Jazz Award” in London with a tour on 7 top festivals in Europe.