Backcountry Concerts Inc

BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ CELEBRATES, PRESERVES AND EXPANDS THE RICH TRADITION OF AMERICA'S ART FORM,JAZZ, THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF OUTSTANDING CONCERTS, MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND A SUMMER MUSIC CAMP.

COMMUNITY CONCERTS, PUBLIC SCHOOL YOUTH CONCERTS, IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION CONCERTS: BCJAZZ CREATES AND PRESENTS HIGH QUALITY CONCERTS FOR STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE FINEST ARTISTS IN JAZZ TODAY. CONCERTS ARE MEANT TO INSTILL ENTHUSIASM AND BUILD A WIDER AUDIENCE FOR THE UNIQUELY AMERICAN ART FORM OF JAZZ. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, YOUTH CONCERTS AND IN-SCHOOL CONCERTS WERE CANCELED THIS YEAR. PER CDC GUIDELINES, WE PROVIDED 15 FREE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY CONCERTS.

BACKCOUNTRY JAZZ SUMMER MUSIC CAMP: BCJAZZS SUMMER MUSIC CAMP PROVIDES STUDENTS 10- 19 WITH HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS, CAMP IS OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM BRIDGEPORT AND SURRONDING AREA SCHOOLS. DUE TO ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, THESE STUDENTS TRADITIONALLY HAVE LIMITED EXPOSURE TO MUSIC ENRICHMNENT ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND NONE DURING SUMMER MONTHS. SUMMER CAMP ADDRESSES THIS BY OFFERING MUSIC INSTRUCTION IN INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUE, COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION, IN ENSEMBLE TEAMWORK ON BRASS, WOODWIND, STRING AND PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS, AND IN VOCAL SKILLS. THROUGH PLAYING MUSIC, STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE AND DEVELOP IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE SUCCESS. CAMP INSTRUCTORS ARE SELECTED FOR THEIR LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AND DELIVER HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND MENTORSHIP THROUGHOUT CAMP. PROMINENT GUEST JAZZ ARTISTS ALSO PROVIDE INTENSIVE DAILY WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, ONE-ON-ONE TEACHING AND SMALL GROUP WORKSHOPS. HEARING, MEETING AND WORKING WITH THESE FINE ARTISTS PROVIDES AN INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE THAT IS OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. PER CDC GUIDELINES, BCJAZZ'S SUMMER MUSIC CAMP WAS PROVIDED IN VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS FOR FOUR WEEKS DURING JULY AND AUGUST, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, FROM 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM.

THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: GIVES BRIDGEPORT STUDENTS WHO POSSESS A DESIRE TO LEARN AND A PASSION FOR MUSIC, BUT LACK THE FINANCIAL MEANS FOR SUSTAINED COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS IN JAZZ AND IMPROVE THEIR INSTRUMENTAL SKILLS. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH ENSEMBLE WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUAL LESSONS WEEKLY DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR (SEPTEMBER - JUNE). FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED THROUGH OUR ADVANCED PERFORMING ENSEMBLE. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS IN JAZZ, AS WELL AS INTERACT WITH HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, PERFORMING ARTISTS, AND WITH THEIR PEERS. THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS. PER CDC GUIDELINES, THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED IN VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS, AS WELL AS IN-PERSON WHEN POSSIBLE.