Jazzworks is the educational outreach component of the Edmonton Jazz Festival Society (EJFS). It is directly supported and funded by the EJFS as well as Canadian Heritage and sponsors from Edmonton and Alberta based businesses. Edmonton is blessed to have an abundance of talented youth. With the essential guidance from jazz masters, and the proper resources young muisicians can lead to great artistic heights. Many Jazzworks alumni have become some of Canada’s brightest jazz musicians, composers as well as highly respected educators. Jazzworks is the key for laying the foundation for future jazz musicians and audience appreciation, vital to the future of jazz in Edmonton.

The Jazzworks Non-Competitive Band Festival (NCBF) was started in the early 1990‘s. It was designed to provide an enhanced workshop experience for junior high and high school students to play within large jazz ensembles. To this day Jazzworks continues to allow young jazz musicians from across Edmonton area to attend workshops while enjoying an inspiring learning experience with their peers. The Jazzworks Creative Small Group Workshops is an educational component of the Edmonton International Jazz Festival. It provides participants with a week-long opportunity for growth and development under the guidance of established Edmonton, Canadian, and International jazz musicians. A professional development workshop created for exceptional high school students, university / college aged musicians, and young jazz professionals an opportunity to further develop their skills within the jazz realm and to gain further insight into the jazz music business. Each participant is exposed to seminars involving adjudication, composition, professionalism, and even the business of music. The program cumulates with a concert performance during the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, as well as the opportunity to attend sound checks of several international artists. The sessions are under the direction of Edmonton's own Kent Sangster and assisted by recognized professional jazz artists in live, interactive performance workshops. All workshops are open to the public for observation.

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