A word from Artistic Director Steve Zegree . . .

As Artistic Director of the New York City Jazz Festival, I would like to encourage you and your students to participate in the festivities. I am very excited about this event and all of the educational and performance opportunities it offers the participants. Plus it's just plain ol' fun!

First and foremost, the nature and philosophy of this event is friendly, cooperative, educational and NON-COMPETITIVE. I assure you that your students and ensembles will be in good company – the staff at MCP are real pros, wonderful people, and all with music backgrounds!!

• A festival chorus of the combined participating choirs that I will rehearse and conduct in NYC, culminating with a public performance of the Festival Chorus and Gold Company (the vocal jazz ensemble that I direct) at Jazz at Lincoln Center, one of the most outstanding performance venues in New York City.  I have found that the festival chorus allows us to have fun, develop a community and also impart important rehearsal, stylistic and performance aspects of the art of vocal jazz.
• It is open to high school and college vocal and instrumental ensembles
• Your ensemble will perform on a public concert – with full audience – that will feature the participating groups, and include positive feedback and comments from all of our wonderful clinicians.
• Performance will be in the famed Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center - one of the most beautiful performance sites in the world!
• Your ensemble will also receive a private clinic with one of our clinicians that can be focused on educational experiences and tailored to what you would like your students to receive, if you would like. I think this one on one experience is invaluable and one of the highlights of the festival.
• In addition to all of our musical activities you and your students will also be given free time for touring, sightseeing and perhaps even catching a Broadway show or a jazz concert.
• Scheduled to appear for Q&A/special performance is Kurt Elling, the Grammy-winning male vocalist, and Bob Mintzer, multiple Grammy Award winner, composer, arranger and Yellowjackets big band leader. I think your students will really enjoy the "up close and personal" time with Kurt and Bob.
• Post-concert cruise with beautiful sights of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline.