Education
The brand new PJO Summer Jazz Intensive
We are thrilled to announce our inaugural PJO Summer Jazz Intensive in partnership with Heart of Los Angeles! This will be an exciting, two-week experience for young jazz musicians to learn and collaborate in an ensemble with leading industry professionals, mentors, and special guests.
On this page you will find information about the camp and our application process. You will also find the button to submit your application. If you have any questions, please reach out to our contact under the Audition Requirements section below.
Overview:
The Pacific Jazz Orchestra (PJO) is offering a two-week Summer Jazz Intensive designed for high school and college-age students passionate about jazz performance. This program aims to provide young artists with hands-on experience in a structured ensemble, led by professional jazz artists and educators.
The Summer Jazz Intensive will take place over the course of two weeks, from June 15-June 26, 2026 (with a break that Saturday and Sunday). Students will perform a culminating concert for their friends, families, and the community on the evening of June 26. Sessions will be held on the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) campus in Lafayette Park, including one field trip day to prominent recording studio Evergreen Studios.
Morning sessions include section rehearsals and individual instrumental instruction by members of Pacific Jazz Orchestra, fostering skill and improvisation development through personalized guidance. Afternoon sessions focus on full ensemble (tutti) rehearsals led by Chris Walden, providing students the opportunity to refine their ensemble playing under an experienced conductor.
A series of lectures, workshops, and panel discussions from leading professionals on topics such as orchestration, career advice, and the music business will provide students with a well-rounded foundation for their growth.
Camp Dates:
Week 1: June 15-June 18, 2026
Week 2: June 22-June 26, 2026
Final performance: June 26, 2026
Please Note: Camp will not be held over the weekend, or on June 19th in observation of Juneteenth.
Tuition & Tuition Assistance:
Please note: The PJO Summer Jazz Intensive will not be providing housing and transportation for the duration of the program.
Tuition: $1,200
Need-based tuition assistance may be available for qualifying applicants thanks to the Hal Gaba Scholarship Fund. If you plan to apply for financial aid, the application will be accessible during the camp registration process, which occurs after you have received your audition results.
The Hal Gaba Scholarship Fund was made possible via a gift from The Gaba Family Foundation. Hal Gaba, a lifelong jazz enthusiast, was chairman of Concord Records. Major education funding for Pacific Jazz Orchestra generously provided by Jason Subotky and Anne Akiko Meyers and Fox Family Foundation. Other PJO education donors include the Jonathan and Karen Fryd Family Foundation.
Pacific Jazz Orchestra gratefully acknowledges donors who generously support PJO's work both on its performance stages and in community spaces. Pacific Jazz Orchestra thanks the Herb Alpert Foundation for its ongoing leadership support. Major funders for PJO include GROW@Annenberg Foundation and Anonymous
Heart of Los Angeles
Pacific Jazz Orchestra is proud to partner with Heart of Los Angeles to present this transformational jazz program. Heart of Los Angeles is a dream partner in this educational endeavor with its deep commitment to serving students who represent richly diverse racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds, including underserved youth in Central and South Central Los Angeles. The PJO collaboration exemplifies Heart of Los Angeles’ approach to program development, which is firmly rooted in an ethic of partnership.
Heart of Los Angeles CEO Tony Brown states, “Heart of Los Angeles is delighted to collaborate with Pacific Jazz Orchestra on the Summer Jazz Intensive, which is open to students from across the Southland as well as members of the Heart of Los Angeles community. The musical artists providing instruction for this significant jazz education program are leaders in their field with decades of unparalleled professional experience.”
Audition Requirements:
Student artists must be between the ages of 14-20 and available for all dates of the program, including the final performance on June 26, 2026.
You will be asked to submit a 2-3 sentence statement about why you would like to participate in this year’s camp. You will also be asked to submit a live video of you playing a musical selection of your choice, as well as a live video of you playing a short, pre-assigned selection that corresponds with your primary instrument. Please refer to the pre-assigned selections below:
*If you do not have access or the ability to record video, please let us know. Your performance will not be judged by the quality of video or equipment.
Auditionees will be notified no later than May 1st, 2026. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at education@pacificjazz.org. Thank you for your interest in our summer program!
Important Dates:
Application Due: April 1, 2026
Tuition Due: June 1, 2026
The Team
Chris Walden
Leading the daily ensemble sessions of the program is Chris Walden. A seven-time GRAMMY-nominated composer/arranger/conductor, he founded Pacific Jazz Orchestra in 2022.
“The Summer Jazz Intensive provides an incredible opportunity for young people to enhance their jazz skills in an ensemble or orchestral setting under the tutelage of some of the best jazz artists in the business. The program helps bridge the gap in instrumental jazz education by providing invaluable mentorship and instruction. We are proud to nurture young talent and help shape the future of jazz by ensuring its continued evolution.”
Courtney Fortune
Our Director of Education is Courtney Fortune, an award-winning vocalist, educator, and the author of The Songwriter’s Notebook (Ten Speed Press, Penguin Random House)
She is the founder of Songmaker Sessions: a songwriting and mentorship program for teens and adults, and co-founder/co-director of the High School Songwriters Summit and Showcase at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles.
Courtney has a Bachelors Degree in Music Industry and a Masters Degree in Arts Leadership from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.
*Still to be announced are our daily sectional instructors and guest lecturers. Stay tuned!