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Musical Links

We know our students are often very busy during the summer with internships and family vacations and, most bands and orchestras do not meet in the summer. However, there are other opportunities to play. Here are some; some of these programs require applications to be filed by early March, some even earlier, so if at all interested, investigate now. However, if you'd like to find local places to refine, or continue to play your instrument or learn a new one here are some alternatives:

 For Students of all ages and skills:
  • Laney Summer Music Program: Meets on the college campus at the Laney College Music Department and the Laney Theater are back to back and all large rehearsals will take place right on the stage that the performances will occur. 

For all musicians:

A five day Chamber Music Workshop is in Berkeley at the Crowden School, July 29-August 2

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Three week-long CSU Humboldt Chamber Music Workshops - starting June 28, July 5, and July 12

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A week-long Ashland (Oregon) Chamber Music Workshop - starting July 12. (Same time & town as the Shakespeare Festival)

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Two week-long California Capital (CSU Sacramento) Chamber Music Workshops - starting July 26 and August 2.

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The Community Women’s Orchestra in Oakland for several years has run sight reading sessions for full orchestra during the summer. Check their web site as summer approaches for details.

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For Brass there are the two week-long Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshops, starting July 19 and again July 26

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Additionally, the Amateur Chamber Music Network has an online guide for playing opportunities, not only for chamber music, (double reeds, clarinets, flutes, French horns, strings and piano) but also for other genres: jazz, classical, folk, vocal, etc.

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And check the Amateur Music Network's listings for music opportunities as summer approaches

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For Concert Wind Bands

I know of three local Community Bands that meet during the summer:

The Find-A-(Concert) Band Directory, published by the Association of Concert Bands, locates concert bands and is here: http://bit.ly/2uTtsRE It can be searched by zip, e.g.

For Jazz
A week-long Jazz Camp West for kids and adults in La Honda, CA, June 20: http://www.jazzcampwest.com/

Stanford Jazz Institute offers various programs throughout the summer; kids’ program are also available, starting July 6 thru the end of July: https://stanfordjazz.org/programs/summer-programs/

It’s not clear when the UC San Diego Jazz Camp will run this year: INTERNAL LINK http://jazzcamp.ucsd.edu/

The California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley offers summer workshops for kids and adults; schedule not yet available: https://cjc.edu/workshops/

Similarly, San Francisco Jazz: https://www.sfjazz.org/education/classes-and-workshops

Downbeat magazine’s March (paper) issue lists jazz workshop opportunities: https://downbeat.com/magazine

Throughout the school year, additional musical opportunities:

We are fortunate to live in an area with plenty of great musical support and venues that provide support and growth for our musicians year-round, in addition to what we offer at Oakland HS.

The Oakland Public Conservatory/SFJazz High School ensemble: meets every Wednesday from 4:30pm-6:30pm in the OHS music room. Contact Mr. Byrd for more info. 

MUSE VIVO Orchestra (Grades 7-12) https://www.oaklandsymphony.org/community-education/muse/

The Oakland Symphony coordinator will come to Oakland High to audition students in the Orchestra in October.  MUSE VIVO Rehearsals are weekly on Thursdays from 4:30-6pm at Edna Brewer MS. Every year a number of OHS students participate in the MUSE VIVO Orchestra. 

Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra: https://www.ypsomusic.org/#intro

Consisting of nearly 90 talented music students (aged 12-22 years) from 46 schools and more than 30 cities in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Youth Orchestra is open by audition to all qualified young people from Bay Area schools. No musician is excluded for reasons of financial need.

Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra maintains a commitment to cultural exchange through international tours every three years. Touring destinations have included many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Prior tours have also given students the opportunity to visit and perform in the Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico, Cuba, Australia, and New Zealand.

Oakland EastSide All-star Ensemble: https://www.facebook.com/oease/

Music and Leadership Fellowship Program for Middle and High School Students from East Oakland and all OUSD schools are invited to audition. Exceptional music learning and exposure
Family and community engagement through the arts performance and service learning experience
Scholarship awards and private lessons are available. Contact oaklandtechmusicdept@gmail.com for information and audition information and dates.

Berkeley Youth Orchestra: https://www.byoweb.org/#!

BYO is a full symphonic orchestra whose mission is to foster the musical abilities and personal growth of dedicated young musicians in grades 5-12 throughout the greater Bay Area by providing a nurturing environment and the highest quality opportunities in both rehearsal and performance in an orchestra setting.

SF JAZZ Partnership: https://www.sfjazz.org/support

Oakland HS has established a partnership with SF Jazz, to provide Jazz Education. 

Contact Jamahn Lee, School Programs Coordinator, jlee@sfjazz.org for more info or to request concert tickets.