BackCountry Jazz Holds Open House for Music Camp

[Editor's note: The following information was provided in a press release.]

What do you get when you mix 80 music students from Bridgeport Public Schools, 10 music teachers from high schools and universities around the northeast, prominent recording artists and interns from Fairfield County high schools?  

Amazing music and community building at a four-week, all day music camp for Bridgeport students from fifth through 12th grade.

“This is our fifth year and it’s our best," Gerard Tandi, a Bridgeport instrumental music teacher, said. "We have lots of returning students and the level of playing has increased dramatically.”

Officially known BackCountry Jazz Summer Music Camp, an extension of the Student Opportunity Arts Reinforcement (SOAR) program -- this music camp is coordinated and run by tenor saxophonist Bennie Wallace. Wallace is the artistic director of BackCountry Jazz, a non-profit based in Greenwich that performs year-round to support the camp. 

“Our donors really get how important music is for kids and it’s paying off," Wallace said. "The level of musicianship is beyond our expectation, these kids are growing immensely.”

The camp day starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. All students are on scholarship and can attend if they can read music and have had at least one year of experience playing an instrument. Band teachers throughout the Bridgeport Public Schools district promote the camp throughout the school year.

Students play a variety of instruments including clarinet, flute, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, guitar, violin, viola and cello. Music classes in advanced and beginner band start the day, and are followed by the History of Jazz, Afro-Cuban Drumming, recess, lunch and then on to workshops run by performing artists. Bassist David Wong performed and taught students last week.

Breakfast and lunch are provided by The Dressing Room Restaurant in Westport, with support from BackCountry Jazz’s patrons. 

“Adding nutritional food has been a real leap forward for the kids, no more salty/sugary snacks,” Wallace, who advocated for healthier food, said.

A true collaborative effort, SOAR has many supporters and partners. Kids Educated By Your Support (KEYS), a music education organization, is providing some of their music teachers for the camp. Newman’s Own Foundation has been a loyal supporter of the camp. 

For the first time, this year student musicians from Fairfield Ludlowe High School have joined as music teachers. Incoming seniors and orchestra members Michael Perlman and Cosden Leahey have been working with the Bridgeport students. 

“It’s encouraged me to study music education in college," Perlman said. "I’ve found myself enjoying teaching, the kids jump for joy to play guitar and working with them one-to-one, you can really see their challenges and help.”

BackCountry Jazz and SOAR Open House Information

The tour begins at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23. 

Performance by the All-Star Jazz Group Disorder at The Border at 12:30 p.m.

160 Iranistan Avenue

Bridgeport, CT