Jazz At Aspen-Snowmass

The jas academy hosted 46 students from some of the top music schools across the county between two 2-week summer sessions. Students work with faculty from the frost school of music at the university of miami, as well as visiting professional jazz musicians during the program which focuses on identifying and assisting the most talented student artists embracing jazz fundamentally while exploring myriad related and unrelated forms of music at the highest quality. The academy is a full scholarship program supported annually by a multi-year gift from ed and sasha bass. In 2024 jas launched a new afro-caribbean session attracting a wider range of musicians than years past.

Local education initiatives provided over $255,000 in support to local public middle and high schools, reaching 15 schools and over 1,500 students. This included support for jas's newest education program launched in 2024, the jas street horns, designed for advanced middle and high school students interested in a high-level band experience with their peers across the western slope. Students study and perform with other advance students at a level they are likely not participating in at school. The group meets monthly throughout the year for a rehearsal and performance, working with local musicians, as well as professional musicians traveling to the area to perform for jas. This year long commitment ends with an exciting spring break trip to new orleans! All expenses for street horn participation, including the trip, are covered by jas.