SXU to Host 2026 Southside Summer Jazz Camp
Saint Xavier University's (SXU) Southside Summer Jazz Camp is back, and participating students can immerse themselves in a weeklong, high-quality educational experience. The camp will run from June 22-26, from 3 to 7 p.m. in McGuire Hall.
The SXU-Southside Summer Jazz Camp offers students an opportunity to enhance their musical skills, cultivate a passion for jazz, and make new friends. Camp is open to students in sixth through 12th grade and welcomes all instruments, including trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, string bass, guitar, vibraphone, and drums, as well as non-traditional jazz instruments. Students of all levels of experience are encouraged to attend, regardless of whether they are new to jazz or looking to expand their horizons.
"The students attending jazz camp will learn many valuable skills in jazz performance, improvisation, jazz history, and musicianship. Their days at camp will provide them with tools, techniques, and guidance to help them grow as musicians. Jazz has many unique styles and traditions (swing, bebop, fusion) that we do our best to familiarize our campers with. This year, we will be celebrating the centennial birthdays of Miles Davis and John Coltrane," Director of Jazz and Commercial Music Shawn Salmon, D.A., said.
A day in the life at camp includes daily rehearsals on jazz repertoire, instrumental sectionals, improvisation masterclasses, jam sessions, guest concerts, and music theory workshops. Students will showcase their talents at the final concert on June 26 at 6 p.m., which is free for everyone.
"The day usually begins and ends with some warm-ups and ensemble rehearsals, learning the music that they will play at the Friday concert. They then have a portion of the day spent in sectionals. This is where each section (saxophones, trombones, trumpets, rhythm instruments) meets with our SXU camp instructors to work on their music together and learn specific techniques on their instruments. Finally, we have improvisation clinics. If you ask the students, their favorite time is break, when they get to enjoy SXU's campus, walk around Lake Marion, and play soccer games in the quad. We end the week with a pizza party and concert on Friday," Salmon said.
In the camp's 11th year, Salmon is excited to continue influencing future musicians, all while showing these students what the SXU experience is all about. The development of the Jazz Camp Scholarship in 2025 has provided committed students with the opportunity to play in SXU's jazz camp.
"This camp provides many with an introduction to jazz, getting them excited to continue to play jazz after they leave camp. We make sure our campers know about the many, many wonderful opportunities to continue music at SXU or wherever else they might go. We also emphasize that you don't have to be a music major at SXU to play in our bands; we have scholarships available for majors, minors, and participants. Last year, we started the Jazz Camp Scholarship, in which eligible students who attend SXU can receive up to $1,000 to play in our jazz band, regardless of their major," Salmon said.
For more information, visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: Summer Camps. Register online.