CLASSICAL TAHOE ANNOUNCES BRUBECK JAZZ INSTITUTE

Press Contact:
Sarah Wells, Classical Tahoe
sarah@classicaltahoe.org
775-298-0245

BRUBECK JAZZ SUMMIT
JULY 19 – July 25, 2020

Announcing New Jazz Event in North Lake Tahoe

Inviting the finest young jazz musicians on the planet to train with top jazz professionals

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (February 26, 2020) – Classical Tahoe is pleased to announce the inaugural Brubeck Jazz Summit, July 19- July 25, 2020.

Classical Tahoe has partnered with Brubeck Living Legacy and San Francisco Conservatory of Music to bring the one-week intensive educational program in jazz performance to Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Exceptionally talented students from throughout the world will study and play with guest artists and master teachers, immersing themselves in an intensive jazz experience on the beautiful Sierra Nevada University campus by Lake Tahoe.

“With our partners at Classical Tahoe, we are excited to bring the Brubeck family’s jazz vision to Lake Tahoe to promote awareness, interest and the understanding of jazz and its role in American international culture,” said Chris Brubeck of Brubeck Living Legacy, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, son of Dave Brubeck and Classical Tahoe Advisory Board Member.

Brubeck Jazz Summit Artistic Director Simon Rowe has assembled an all-star faculty. “As former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute,” said Mr. Rowe, “I am delighted to perpetuate the values of Dave Brubeck by gathering elite faculty drawn from the roster of the Roots, Jazz and American Music Program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.”

Karen Craig, Classical Tahoe’s Executive Director said, “Simon Rowe is a passionate jazz ambassador and entrepreneur with a proven ability to excite young people about jazz.” Classical Tahoe is proud to support Brubeck Jazz Summit in support of its mission to bring world-class arts and music education to Tahoe.”

In addition to Director Simon Rowe, piano, the 2020 faculty includes Assistant Director Jason Hainsworth, saxophone; Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, saxophone; Carmen Bradford, jazz voice; Sylvia Cuenca, drums; Brandon Robertson, bass, and special guests Chris and Dan Brubeck.

Brubeck Jazz Summit offers 30 aspiring young jazz artists a week of apprenticeship by combining rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses, jam sessions, and performances. “Learning will occur in the context of small working ensembles and students will practice and perform compositions written by Dave Brubeck and other great jazz composers; original student work will be explored as well. Nightly jam sessions and perhaps concerts will likely be part of the educational program. Public concerts will be announced.

Scholarships are available for students. Brubeck Jazz Summit accepts online applications from talented, accomplished, and highly motivated students who are entering their sophomore, junior, or senior years in high school. Graduating seniors are also eligible to apply.

Sierra Nevada University (SNU) is a private, independent, accredited four-year liberal arts college. The campus is located in the mountain community of Incline Village, Nevada, and just two blocks from the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Tuition-covered campus life for Brubeck Jazz Summit students includes quiet and comfortable dormitories, a meal plan through the SNU cafeteria, and access to the beautiful Prim Library.

Brubeck Jazz Summit performances will be held in the Classical Tahoe Pavilion, Classical Tahoe Orchestra Concerts and Chamber Concerts & Meet the Musicians are held at the Classical Tahoe Pavilion on the campus of Sierra Nevada University in Incline Village, Nevada, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nevada.

Sponsors

Brubeck Jazz Summit is made possible by the generous support of enthusiasts: Kim and Peter Garcia, Sandy and Steve Hardie, Susan Maturlo and Chuck Dowd, Anh-Tuyet Nguyen and Robert Pollack, and Elenore and Bob Preger.

Classical Tahoe

Classical Tahoe is a world-class celebration of arts with classical music concerts, jazz performances, and community programs for music education and appreciation on the campus of Sierra Nevada University, Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Classical Tahoe Festival and Music Institute has announced the upcoming 9th season, July 9 -August 15, 2020

Rising just 16 rows, the 400- seat Classical Tahoe Pavilion is an industry differentiator. Noted for its sail-like structure, the orchestral concert pavilion offers exceptional, unamplified sound and the opportunity for audiences to capture the body language, hand movements, and intuitive communication.

Brubeck Jazz Summit Faculty 2020

Simon Rowe, piano
Brubeck Jazz Summit Artistic Director
Artistic Director of the Brubeck Jazz Summit and former Executive Director of the Brubeck Institute, Dr. Simon Rowe is a distinguished educator, entrepreneur, and artist in the jazz field. Along with leading the Simon Rowe Trio, Rowe has played with many greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Leibman, Tim Hagens, John Fedchock, Mulgrew Miller, Jimmy Heath, Stephanie Nakasian, Lucia Newell, Debbie Duncan, Willie Akins, Jeanne Trevor, Bob Mintzer, Luqman Hamza, Marvin Stamm, Dianne Schurr, and Claudio Roditi. In his first year as Executive Director of Brubeck Institute, Rowe established a new Brubeck Degree Track (at the University of the Pacific), created an innovative jazz club (Take 5) through a private/public partnership and developed local, national and international coalitions to forward the mission of the Institute.

Jason Hainsworth, saxophone
Brubeck Jazz Summit Assistant Director
Jason Hainsworth is in demand both as a saxophonist and as a composer/arranger. As a native of Houston, Texas, he studied at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He later went on to study music at the University of New Orleans with legendary jazz educator Ellis Marsalis and saxophonist Victor Goines. Hainsworth then moved to the New York/ New Jersey area to continue his musical studies at William Paterson University while performing along the east coast. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in music, Jason matriculated at Florida State University for graduate work where he earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Studies.

Carmen Bradford, jazz vocals
2019 Grammy Nominee, Carmen Bradford, was born in Austin, Texas and raised in Altadena, California. Carmen Bradford grew up with music in her home and in her heart. It was only natural that Carmen would follow in the footsteps of her great family legacy being the daughter of legendary cornetist/composer Bobby Bradford and world-renowned jazz vocalist/composer/author Melba Joyce. Carmen performed on two Grammy-winning albums with the Count Basie Orchestra in the 1980s and later collaborated on a third Grammy-winning album, “Big Boss Band” with guitarist George Benson in 1991. Her soulful voice warmed the hearts of the world through the celebrated performance of the classic duet, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” on the TONIGHT SHOW with Johnny Carson that same year. Carmen Bradford’s love of teaching has been recognized by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The new Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM Program) has welcomed her with open arms. Carmen is the resident and head of the Jazz Voice Department. Carmen Bradford’s body of work reflects a vast depth of musical experience and technical brilliance. She is also recognized for the overwhelming passion she brings to the lyrics.

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, saxophone
“Hailed as a “sax phenom” by The New York Daily News, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown is one of the first prominent jazz musicians to emerge out of the millennial generation. He has toured globally as a soloist, and with numerous jazz artists and pop icons ranging from Arturo O’Farrill to Taylor Swift. Chad is also a member of the multi-Grammy award-winning Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, and he is on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory as a visiting artist. Downbeat Magazine selected his latest release, “Onward” as an Editor’s Pick for 2017, commending his “technical abilities that mask the difficulty of his wondrously intricate lines.”

Sylvia Cuenca, drums
Sylvia Cuenca is an active drummer on the New York jazz scene who is contributing outstanding performances in a variety of situations. She has had the honor of sharing the bandstand with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for 4 years and trumpet legend Clark Terry for 17 years. The Joe Henderson quartet toured frequently in European countries Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, England, Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany and venues across the U.S. In a trio setting she performed with Joe Henderson and Charlie Haden in 1989 and with George Mraz in 1994. She performed with the Clark Terry Quintet and Big Band at Village Vanguard, Birdland, Blue Note, Queen Elizabeth 2, Royal Viking, S.S. Norway jazz cruises and clubs, concerts and festivals in the U.S, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America. While working with the Clark Terry quintet she had the opportunity to perform with guest artists Al Grey, Red Holloway, Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Marian McPartland, Dianne Reeves, Joe Williams, and Lou Donaldson to name a few.

Brandon Robertson, bass
Brandon L. Robertson is an EMMY® nominated director and notable Upright/Electric Bassist originally from Tampa, FL. In 2009, he graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Jazz Studies. In the same year, Brandon became a member of the popular Florida-based jazz trio The Zach Bartholomew Trio. In 2012, the trio released their first album entitled “Out of This Town”, which received notable reviews from jazz critics. In 2015, Brandon performed at the world-famous Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club in New York City with the nationally recognized FSU Jazz Sextet joining members of the JALC Orchestra.

Special Summit Guest Faculty

Chris Brubeck, trombone
A Grammy-nominated composer, Chris Brubeck has distinguished himself as a multi-faceted performer and creative force, creating an impressive body of symphonic work while maintaining a demanding touring and recording schedule with two groups: The Brubeck Brothers, and Triple Play, an acoustic trio featuring Chris on piano, bass and trombone, guitarist Joel Brown and harmonica player Peter Madcat Ruth. Chris also performs as a soloist playing his trombone concertos with orchestras and is an in-demand composer. He has served as Artist in Residence with orchestras and colleges in America, coaching, lecturing, and performing with students and faculty. Chris (along with his siblings), is a founding director of “Brubeck Living Legacy” a non-profit founded by the Brubeck family to honor and continue the legacy of Dave and Iola Brubeck.

Daniel (Dan) Brubeck, drums
Dan Brubeck has toured the international music circuit since his early teens as the leader of his own groups and as a featured soloist with many of the world‘s top symphonies, pop and jazz artists. He was producer and drummer for the 1993 Grammy-nominated Trio Brubeck album. Career highlights include his performance in the 1996 annual Grammy Awards as well as the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors when Dave Brubeck received that prestigious award. Recently, The Dan Brubeck Quartet was nominated for the highly coveted JUNO Award. His other group, The Brubeck Brothers Quartet has five critically acclaimed CD’s to their credit.

Learn more at https://classicaltahoe.org/brubeck-jazz-summit/
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