Scottish National Jazz Orchestra saxophonist Helena Kay is one of five top tutors who will be on hand to help aspiring jazz musicians develop their skills at the residential Summer Jazz Camp Scotland from August 8-12.
Now in its second year and located at Wiston Lodge, a Victorian hunting lodge in the South Lanarkshire hills near Biggar, the summer camp is aimed at musicians aged 12 to 22 years.
“It’s designed to cover all aspects of jazz music, from the fundamentals of jazz theory to advanced techniques in big band and ensemble playing,” says Kay, who moved to Glasgow after studying in London and New York.
Kay, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and winner of the coveted Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, is joined on the staff by trumpeter Ryan Quigley, drummer Andrew Bain, pianist Tom Gibbs, and double bassist Brodie Laird-Jarvie.
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A much in-demand lead trumpeter, Ryan Quigley’s touring and recording credits include work with popular music icons Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble, and Burt Bacharach as well as bass legend Ron Carter and many of Europe’s leading orchestras.
Bain, who is Head of Jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, has worked with trumpeters Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Wheeler and Randy Brecker and orchestras including the Hamburg-based NDR Bigband.
Gibbs teaches on the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland jazz course and has recorded with New Yorkers, drummer Ari Hoenig and guitarist Gilad Hekselman, and Brodie Laird-Jarvie is graduate from Amsterdam Conservatoire.
He has also worked with musicians including saxophonists Tommy Smith and Brian Molley and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
“There really is a wealth of professional experience in this team of tutors,” says Kay, who in addition to playing in the SNJO, leads an outstanding quartet and works with pianist Zoe Rahman, violinist Seonaid Aitken and trumpeters Yazz Ahmed and Sean Gibbs.
All five tutors believe that jazz is a powerful tool for personal and artistic growth and they will be striving to give their students the passion and self-belief that will allow them to improvise, collaborate, and perform with ease.
It’s designed to cover all aspects of jazz music, from the fundamentals of jazz theory to advanced techniques in big band and ensemble playing - Helena Kay
“Above all, we want students to enjoy playing jazz and to feel a sense of achievement in their own playing and in playing with other musicians,” says Kay.
The summer camp venue, Wiston Lodge is only an hour’s drive from both Edinburgh and Glasgow but it is miles away from the distractions of city life.
“We know from last year that it’s an inspiring environment,” says Kay. “The accommodation is ideal and the food is all about balance and nutrition. Everything is set up so that students get the most out of the experience.”
The five-day course costs £650 and includes all meals and accommodation onsite. A deposit of £150 is required and the full balance is due by June 30. Bookings made after June 30 must be accompanied by the full fee for the course. Deposits are non-refundable.
