Brubeck Fellowship Program

Overview

The Brubeck Fellowship Program is a one or two-year full-scholarship program in jazz performance for five musicians who have just graduated from high school. These are the Brubeck Fellows and they comprise the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet (BIJQ).  Ages of the Brubeck Fellows range from 17 to 19. Musicians who are already enrolled in another college or university program are not eligible to apply to the Fellowship Program.

The Brubeck Fellows are students pursuing careers in jazz performance, and are selected during auditions held annually at Yoshi's Jazz House in Oakland, CA.

Performance

The BIJQ has performed on the Monterey Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Brubeck Festival, Detroit International Jazz Festival, North Texas Jazz Festival, and many others, and have done concerts in California, New York, Washington, Florida, Chicago, Toronto, Minneapolis, Texas, Washington D.C., and on a State Department tour of Spain. They have performed in jazz clubs such as Yoshi's in Oakland, The Montreal Bistro in Toronto, Herb Alpert's club Vibrato in Los Angeles, and the Jamboree Jazz Club in Barcelona, Spain. They have also performed at the annual conference of the International Association for Jazz Education, and at the First Annual Jazz Education Network conference in St. Louis, MO. The BIJQ also does clinics and performances in schools throughout the country. In 2007, 2009, and 2010, the BIJQ won the DownBeat award for best college jazz group in the country.

Educational Opportunities

As part of their educational opportunities, the Brubeck Fellows annually attend the Monterey Jazz Festival and other jazz concerts and events in the Bay Area. They take classes in the Institute, in the Conservatory of Music, and have individual lessons, group rehearsals and coaching, and discussions with visitng artists and clinicians throughout the year. The BIJQ does at least one recording project each year, often at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA.  University credit is granted for all classes and lessons and may be applied to degree programs either at University of the Pacific or other institutions to which they may transfer after completion of their certificate program in the Institute. The University of the Pacific is a charter member of the National Association of Schools of Music, and all music programs are accredited.

Upon completion of the program, the Brubeck Fellows receive the Brubeck Institute Certificate of Jazz Performance and go on to collegiate programs in jazz studies or pursue careers in jazz performance. They are also expected to serve as ambassadors for jazz and to promote the values epitomized by the life and music of Dave Brubeck. For information about past Brubeck Fellows, see below.

The 2012 Brubeck Fellowship Program Online Application

• For application guidelines & deadlines click here.

 

Fellowship Artists & Clinicians

A significant component of the educational program of the Brubeck Fellows is the visiting professional artists and clinicians. Each artist engages in a variety of activities with the Fellows and students from the Conservatory of Music, including private lessons, rehearsal and coaching with the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, special topic discussions, and sessions on professional career development. Occasionally, the visiting artists share the stage in performance with the BIJQ.

CLICK HERE for a list of guest artists and clinicians who have worked with the Fellows, 2002-2011.

 

BIJQ availability and booking information

The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet (BIJQ) is available throughout the academic year and occasionally during the summer for performances in schools, community venues, performing arts series, and jazz festivals. They are also available to do clinics in the schools. For information about availability and booking, contact the Institute office at 209.946.2187.