Jazz’s Past, Present… and Future

We’ve got over 90 jazz performances at this year’s Festival, representing the genre’s glorious past (Stanley Clarke, Abdullah Ibrahim) and its dynamic present (Antonio Sánchez, Jaga Jazzist), but for more than 10 years we’ve also been doing our part to grow the future of jazz through the TD Jazz Youth Summit.

During the Festival we provide some of the best young musicians in Canada with a rare platform to develop their big band experience by working with internationally acclaimed musicians and clinicians, culminating in two performances on the Main Stage on Tuesday, June 30 at 6:30pm in the TD Jazz Youth Summit concert and on Canada Day, July 1, in the TD Jazz Youth Summit and Stingray Rising Stars concert at 2pm. Stingray Music bestows cash prizes to the top three outstanding participants to encourage their future studies in the field.

We would call the chance to perform for thousands a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, but we’re confident that for many of these prodigious talents it will be only the beginning.

Besides encouraging them to grow both as individual artists and ensemble players, this experience stays with the participants well after the Festival is over by building close friendships with peers, often resulting in lifelong professional partnerships.

Renowned Canadian jazz trumpet player and University of Toronto professor, Jim Lewis is the Summit’s Music Director. Besides recruiting the participants from across the nation and conducting rehearsals, he invites visiting musicians to the Festival to conduct workshops for Summit participants during their residence.

Traveling from across Canada (often making their first trip to their nation’s capital) these future jazz artists with their all access pass end most days with spontaneous performances at Late Night Jamming (this year taking place at the Spin Kitchen & Bar at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel) alongside professional jazz musicians and legends. In years past, Summiters have played with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Bela Fleck.

We’re proud to announce the 2015 TD Jazz Youth Summit Participants:

Andrew Miller from Toronto, ON on drums
Chris Pond from Antigonish, NS on acoustic bass
Emily Steinwall from Toronto, ON on tenor saxophone
Harrison Argatoff from Kelowna, BC on tenor saxophone
Jonathan Tobin from Abbotsford, BC on trombone
Teegan Walker from Brandon, MB on alto saxophone
Trevor Peverley from White Rock, BC on guitar
Michael Marcotte from Montreal, QC on trombone
Ben Frost from Vancouver, BC on trumpet

Congratulations to all, and we can’t wait to see them take our stage by storm.