A Look Back at the 2026 JazzArts Summer Music Camp

“It’s a very encouraging, welcoming environment. All the beginners, all intermediates, pretty much anyone at every level comes together, and we jam and we learn. And I feel like that in essence is what’s great about JazzArts.” — Melkam, fourth-year JazzArts student

JazzArts Charlotte’s mission is to culturally enrich and provide music education to people throughout the Charlotte community. Every summer, JazzArts furthers this mission by bringing together young musicians from across the region for an unforgettable week of jazz education in a supportive and encouraging environment. At JazzArts Summer Music Camp, students discover life lessons through music, study the works of jazz legends, build confidence as performers, and collaborate with one another under the guidance of veteran jazz educators. The result is an extraordinary week filled with growth, inspiration, friendships, and memories that students will carry with them for a lifetime.

This year, JazzArts proudly welcomed 86 summer campers, marking our second-highest enrollment ever. As participation continues to grow, so does the impact of jazz education, ensuring this uniquely American art form is passed on to the next generation. Students of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced musicians, and from communities near and far came together to learn in classes thoughtfully tailored to their individual skill levels.

“The bands were more tailored to my level of playing and didn’t just feel like I was being placed in groups. It felt like they were really paying attention to my strengths and weaknesses to put me somewhere that was right for me,” said Tashi, a second-year student who traveled all the way from Maine with friends to attend this year’s camp.

Tashi was not the only student to introduce others to the JazzArts experience. Siblings Methus and Ava recalled convincing their sister Amanda to join Summer Music Camp.

“I mean, we did have to really, really, really get Amanda onto the bandwagon. Like, it was a whole thing. But I was like, you’re going to love it,” said Ava, a fourth-year JazzArts student.

Throughout the week, students immersed themselves in a dynamic curriculum that combined small ensemble instruction, jazz theory, jazz history, workshops, and engaging Q&A sessions with professional jazz artists. Campers were placed into combos based on their age and experience, allowing them to immediately apply what they learned in a collaborative performance setting.

“I think I’ve learned a lot about jazz history, mostly because that was one of my big weak areas. The theory classes are great. They simplify all the scales and modes for lots of people. A lot of times I’ve taken what I’ve learned from those places and brought them to my combos. It’s a really nice experience to be able to use that hands-on learning and learn even more things from what I’m doing in those combos,” said Tashi.

One of this year’s highlights was welcoming acclaimed saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator Sharel Cassity as the camp’s guest clinician. A member of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, Cassity has performed with renowned artists including Jennifer Hudson, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. As a passionate advocate for jazz education through the nonprofit Jazz Up!, she has dedicated her career to expanding access to jazz for young musicians, making her an ideal addition to this year’s Summer Music Camp.

“This year was more cool to have Sharel, because she’s a sax player. We got to actually do more one-on-one stuff with her rather than just the master class. The fact that we had a sax player this year allowed me to understand a great jazz player a lot more,” said Jonah, a second-year saxophone student.

In addition to leading a masterclass, Cassity spent time working directly with student combos, providing individual instruction and encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones during the camp’s daily jam sessions.

“I’m just so impressed by the number of very young kids taking a chance to solo, having the confidence to just step out and play a solo. That’s partially what it’s about—having the initiative to just dive in. The positivity amongst the students, to me, has really stood out,” said Cassity.

For many students, the jam sessions were both intimidating and transformative. They became a safe space to take risks, experiment creatively, and discover new confidence as improvisers.

“Before, I wasn’t really an improv person. I would just play straight from the sheet music, and then they threw me into uncomfortable situations where I had to do the jam session. I learned this actually feels really free. I learned to lean into my own artistic side to play good music,” said Carlos, a first-year student.

Beyond developing as musicians, students also built lasting friendships and became part of a welcoming community united by a shared love of jazz. Many experienced performing in a small ensemble for the very first time, learning not only how to improvise and listen, but also how to collaborate, support one another, and perform as a team.

After an inspiring week of learning, rehearsing, and jamming together, students took the stage for a two-hour public concert that celebrated everything they had accomplished. Performing with the combos they had worked alongside all week, many students confidently stepped forward to perform improvised solos—some for the very first time. Each combo, named after influential North Carolina-born jazz musicians, performed selections by legendary artists

including Sonny Rollins, Milt Jackson, and Thelonious Monk. The concert was a powerful celebration of the remarkable growth, talent, and dedication displayed by every student throughout the week.

We are incredibly proud of every student who participated in the 2026 JazzArts Summer Music Camp and extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sharel Cassity, our outstanding faculty, dedicated volunteers, supportive parents, and generous donors. Their collective commitment makes it possible for young musicians to discover the joy of jazz while developing confidence, creativity, and lifelong friendships.

If you would like to help ensure that more young people have access to life-changing experiences like JazzArts Summer Music Camp, we invite you to explore our Ways to Give page and learn how you can support the next generation of jazz musicians. We also encourage families to watch for upcoming opportunities to join the JazzArts Academy this fall.