Improvised Music Company is currently seeking participants for its new Jazz Camp for Girls programme. The three-day summer camp is an opportunity for girls aged 11 to 15 to explore jazz music and improvisation in a fun and supportive environment. Taking place from 27 to 29 June at Dublin City University’s St Patrick’s campus, the summer camp costs €30 and covers all instruments. 

Jazz Camp for Girls is based on the European programme of the same name which launched in Denmark in 2014 in response to the issue of gender imbalance in jazz and improvised music. The programme now operates in countries across the continent including Poland, Slovenia, the UK, Sweden and Turkey, and aims to tackle the imbalance by providing learning opportunities and inspiration from women working in the field.

‘Jazz Camp for Girls is part of IMC’s ethos of “If you see it, you can be it”,’ said Aoife Concannon of Improvised Music Company. ‘We’ve been inspired by Jazz Camp for Girls for years, watching colleagues in Denmark and Jazz North UK develop their camps and hearing about the great experiences of girls taking part.’

The summer camp this June – which is offered in partnership with the DCU BA in Jazz & Contemporary Music Performance and Fingal Arts Office – will present classes from 10am to 4pm each day led by tutors Jenna Harris, Lina Andonovska and Cormac O’Brien. 

Commenting on the camp, musician and educator Harris said: 

Gender balance within any genre of music allows the music reach its potential. I see Jazz Camp for Girls as an opportunity to celebrate women’s past, present and future contributions to jazz. This project is personally important to me because it has the potential to modify the perception of jazz and the jazz musician, and it will positively impact the future of jazz by contributing to equity within the field. 

For further information, visit https://shorturl.at/qsvW8

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