Big Band Academy 2026
The JOC Big Band Academy offers conservatory students the chance to play with the JOC and specialize their Big Band skills. During an intense week we will learn all about musical matters of big band playing such as timbre, articulation, timing and improvisation but also practical matters such as reading notes, planning and working under pressure. With the regular orchestra members we will work towards a final concert in the Blue Dock of the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
This year we will work under the direction of Miho Hazama and play her compositions and arrangements. Miho Hazama is one of the most promising and talented composers/arrangers of her generation. She was lauded in Downbeat as one of “25 for the Future”. She has a lot of experience of working with Big Bands as the chief conductor of Danish Radio Big Band and has previously worked with Metropole Orkest, WDR Big Band and Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, as a conductor.
The JOC Big Band Academy is aimed at both bachelor & master students and open to students from all conservatories in the Netherlands. We will start the Academy on saturday March 7 2026 in the Conservatory of Amsterdam and on tuesday March 10 2026 we will present the results of the Big Band Academy with a concert.
