Welcome to Jazz Up!
Preparing the next generation in jazz for the collegiate and professional world.
Jazz Up
Summer Combo Camp
June 23-27, 2025
Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL
​The Jazz Up Summer Combo Camp is a five-day program dedicated to small group playing and improvisation skills, led by world-class, Grammy-winning artists in Chicago. Engage in masterclasses, combo rehearsals, faculty performances, jazz and Latin rhythm classes, career forums, jam sessions, and group lessons that will elevate your musicianship and expand your artistic horizons. Jazz Up is held between 10 am and 5 pm daily, allowing participants to explore Chicago's rich Jazz scene in the evenings, with access to live performances at some of the city’s most iconic venues.
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Courses include:
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Combo rehearsals
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Group Lessons
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Afro-Latin rhythm classes
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Career discussion forums
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Faculty Concerts
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Masterclasses
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Daily jam sessions
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Final Concert​​​
Past faculty has included: ​​
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Sharel Cassity, Richard Johnson, Clark Sommers, Larry Brown, Alejandro Salazar, Marques Carroll, Kyle Poole, Neil Hemphill, Scott Hesse, & Victor Garcia.
Past guest artists: Quincy Phillips, Justin Robinson, Reggie Thomas, Pharez Whitted, and Michael Dease.
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Jazz Up is a nonprofit 501-c3 organization that offers jazz students a platform to study improvisation, gain experience playing in small combo settings, and obtain insight into navigating collegiate and professional worlds.
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Jazz Up's philosophy is to meet the students where they are to realize their creative potential. Through jazz music, we emphasize the importance of community, relationship-building skills, real-time decision-making, and communication techniques.
Each summer, our world-class faculty teaches a packed schedule of activities, including masterclasses, lessons, rehearsals, career and professionalism sessions, public concerts, and industry discussions for students at all levels. Our activities and offerings are fun and challenging, and we strive to create an environment dedicated to promoting the importance of peer-to-peer support, ensuring everyone can grow and discover their voice in a positive, nurturing environment.
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Program Director and President Sharel Cassity, a nationally renowned jazz artist, founded Jazz Up in 2021 after observing that many high school students need more opportunities to connect with like-minded students and understand the possibilities within the collegiate and professional music-making world. At Jazz Up, students gain a "step up" to earning scholarships, succeed in the collegiate world, and find community and confidence through improvisation.
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Our students arrive eager for opportunities to workshop their ideas, develop their craft, work directly with top artists and educators of Chicago, and connect with other like-minded students. In addition, students will simultaneously sharpen critical life skills that traverse any field, such as:
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Communication skills
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Information processing
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Working with others/ collaboration
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Leadership skills
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Critical thinking skills
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Memory building techniques
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Self-confidence
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Take a deeper dive into American history through Jazz
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Community building ethos
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Creativity
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Life planning strategies
Jazz Up gives students a foundation that prepares them to embark on a future in both music and non-music fields while having a safe space to develop their unique identity and voice.
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Learn More About
Jazz Up
Rehearsals and Classes
Activities at Jazz Up
Combo Rehearsals
Through the group's combo repertoire, instructors teach jazz harmony, ear training, rhythmic techniques, and solo construction. Students learn to embrace new challenges, push creative limits, and work on leadership and listening skills.
Rhythm Classes
Each morning students warm up with a rhythm class, learning traditional Latin, Afro-Cuban, and New Orleans rhythms related to swing.
Masterclasses
Each day will feature one of our illustrious faculty in a masterclass. Students are invited to participate and ask questions to each artist.
Faculty will also lead daily lunch panel discussions covering professionalism and career paths.
Group Lessons
Instruments will have the opportunity to have personalized instruction in group lessons on their instrument.
Faculty Concerts
The faculty will give a short concert each day with a Q&A session following. Students are encouraged to ask questions and participate in demonstrations
Jam Sessions
Each day culminates in two jam sessions divided by level, where students will have the opportunity to participate in or observe faculty-guided jam sessions. Students sharpen their skills and put new information into practice while creating a sense of community.
All Videos
2024 Concert Clip, "Close Your Eyes" by Bernice Petkere
Jazz Place BBQ and Jam Session 2024 "Cold Duck Time" by Eddie Harris
2024 Concert Clip, "Milestones" by Miles Davis
Apply Here
Dates: June 23-27, 2025
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Time: 10 am-5 pm daily
Monday 6/23 11am Check-in/ Friday 6/27 4 pm Final Concert
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Tuition: $349
*$299 early bird rate if enrolled by May 15th
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Location: Elgin Community College,
Elgin, IL
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Out-of-Town Accommodations: Local Airbnbs and hotels are available near ECC. Campers can also book accommodations 20 minutes east of ECC for closer access to Chicago in the evenings.
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Placement Recording
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All Applicants must submit a recording for ensemble placement. All applicants are guaranteed admission and placement in a group regardless of level.
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Prepare two of the following:
Horns, piano, guitar, bass:
1. A medium or med-up swing standard. Play the melody and two choruses of solo​
2. A blues of your choice with the melody and 2-4 choruses of solo
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3. A groove, Latin, or other straight 8th piece of your choice. Play the melody and a short solo.
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Drummers:
1. Record a medium or med-up swing standard. Play time and comp for 2 choruses, then take 1-2 solo choruses. Demonstrating trading is optional.
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2. A groove or straight 8th song, playing the groove for a chorus and short solo.
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Beginning improvisers:
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1. An etude, classical piece, or selection from a band book or method book
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2. Four major scales of your choice (piano opt. hands together)
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3. Chromatic scale--full range (or one octave, optional)​​
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How to Submit:
Email a link to your recordings to jazzupinstitute.com, or submit via the "submit" or "Link" fields on the application.
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*Some popular online platforms to upload your audition to a private tack include Soundcloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and YouTube.​
Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarships are based on need and/or merit. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please send a letter to Sharel Cassity at jazzupinstitute@gmail.com stating your musical background, goals, and why you are requesting a scholarship. Funding for scholarships is limited; applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Pay via credit card or Zelle below:
Step 3:
Send your audition video link to jazzupinstitute@gmail.com. Auditions are due by June 1st.
Additional Merch: Show your support!
(each student gets one t-shirt with enrollment)
Support our Cause
​ All donations to Jazz Up are tax deductible. Your generous contributions allow us to continue providing students with a fun and affordable place to learn jazz and build community. Thanks to our sponsors, we have been able to provide students with an experience that will resonate for a lifetime. However, to keep the cost low and directly make an impact in our local community, we need your help to keep it going. We offer many opportunities for sponsors like you to support Jazz Up with four tiers of sponsorship, each with exclusive thank-you gifts. We also have scholarships for students and ways to donate your skills and time. Thank you!
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Impressions
$1-$249​
Thank you! Your donation will help young, deserving musicians attend Jazz Up at an affordable cost.
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Cuttin' the Changes
$250- $599
Package #1 plus:
- A signed “Thank You” from the students and faculty
- A digital group photo
- A digital concert program
- A link to the final concert
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A Love Supreme
$600-$999
Packages #1 and # 2 plus:
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-A Jazz Up camp T-Shirt
- Tickets to the venue of a live performance by Sharel Cassity or Richard Johnson
- Current albums by Sharel Cassity and Richard Johnson
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Jazz Legacy
$1000 +
Packages #1-4, plus:
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​- A live duo concert/ discussion with Sharel Cassity and Richard Johnson at an agreed-upon date and time. Available via Zoom if out of area.
Sponsor a Student!
$349
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Your contribution will enable Jazz Up to offer more merit-based scholarships to students needing assistance. Students receiving scholarships are extremely grateful!
More ways to help:
Donate Food, Time, or Skills!
Lunch Donation
​Make the day special and promote your business by providing lunch! We will send a student group to perform at your location if desired.
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Volunteer
Act as an on-site coordinator during the camp, helping students get to the right rooms and have the necessary materials.
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Skills
Graphic designers, web designers, and social media professionals are always needed and welcome.
Contact Us
Mail:
Jazz Up Institute
c/o Sharel Cassity- Johnson
P.O. Box 131
Gilberts, IL 60136
Email: jazzupinstitute@gmail.com