The University of Tulsa School of Music presents its annual summer Jazz Camp, scheduled for July 6–11, 2026. The weeklong day camp is open to all music students (instrumental and vocal), ninth grade through college, with all levels of skills and experience. The educational focus of the camp will be based on a curriculum encompassing jazz theory and ear training, jazz improvisation, jazz history, jazz performance (big band, combo, guitar ensemble, vocal), and group lessons and masterclasses. Faculty for the camp includes UTulsa faculty and professional musicians whose careers as teachers and players are well established and widely respected throughout the nation.
The camp will begin with a short orientation meeting 9-9:50 a.m. followed by auditions 10-11:50 a.m. Lunch will be noon to 1 p.m., followed by group lessons from 1-1:50 p.m. and ensemble rehearsal from 2-3 p.m. The camp will culminate with a showcase concert on Saturday, July 11 at 1 p.m.
This summer we will introduce the soloist competition to take place on Thursday afternoon, July 9 after lunch. Open to instrumentalists and vocalists, the winners will have the opportunity to lead the faculty combo and perform their song of choice at the Saturday concert. The competition is open to families and friends of the campers.
See the Information Sheet for a complete schedule.
Camp placement audition
Auditions will be held Monday July 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Lorton Performance Center.
Students should prepare a jazz selection (etude, excerpt or solo transcription) to demonstrate interpretation, tone and technique. Students are also urged to demonstrate improvisation skills (optional for those entering at a beginning level of experience). A short sight-reading exercise will also be presented.
Drummers should be prepared to demonstrate the ability to play in multiple jazz styles: slow and fast swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funk, jazz waltz and more.
Pianists, bassists and guitarists will be asked to demonstrate reading both written notation and chord nomenclature.
Vocalists should prepare a song or two from the American Standard Songbook (ie. Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, George and Ira Gershwin etc.)
Location
Classes for the UTulsa Jazz Camp will be held in the Lorton Performance Center on the campus of The University of Tulsa. The facility is located at 550 South Gary Place (between Fifth Place and Eighth Street on South Gary Place facing east towards Harvard Avenue). The final showcase concert will also be presented at the Lorton Performance Center on Saturday, July 11, in the Gussman auditorium.
Camp Enrollment & Fees
The fee for the week long Jazz Camp is $250. This includes all materials, classes, music and camp T-shirt. Those registering before June 1 will receive a $50 early enrollment discount.
Click here to register.
For more information about the UTulsa Jazz Camp, please contact Nick Mancini at nick-mancini@utulsa.edu.