2026 Final Report
SHALIN LIU PERFORMANCE CENTER 37 MAIN STREET, ROCKPORT
ROCKPORTMUSIC.ORG 978.546.7391
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CAPE ANN JAZZ WORKSHOP
OVERVIEW The Cape Ann Jazz Workshop is an intensive two-week summer program that brings together young musicians from across Cape Ann and beyond to explore the art of jazz. Students of all levels, from beginners just finding their sound to advanced players preparing for college studies, come together in small ensembles to strengthen their musical abilities through a dynamic curriculum, which includes topics such as learning by ear, improvisation, and creating music as part of a vibrant community.
SEE INSIDE THE WORKSHOP Background Mission Core Elements Student Connections
Highlights
CAJW Experience Our Students
Who We Are Faculty and Staff 2026 Guest Artist: Rodney Whitaker Evaluation Looking Ahead
BACKGROUND
MISSION Our mission is to empower young musicians to realize their musical potential and ignite their passion for jazz. At CAJW, students don’t just learn jazz—they explore where their own musical interests can take them. Alongside collaborative small ensembles, masterclasses with worldclass artists, and improvisation workshops, students choose from a growing range of electives designed to spark curiosity and expand their skills. Our dedicated faculty provide the challenge, encouragement, and support students’ to take creative risks and grow with confidence. Beyond music, the Workshop cultivates essential life values—respect, empathy, communication, and collaboration. By combining the highest standards of jazz instruction with mentorship and community, CAJW inspires a lifelong enthusiasm for jazz while empowering students to carry the spirit of creativity, connection, and collaboration into every aspect of their lives.
“The spirit of the Jazz Workshop is to inspire students to play joyfully and creatively, and to connect with their peers through music.” —Alexa Tarantino, Director
BACKGROUND
CORE ELEMENTS The Workshop is built on two sets of values that shape everything students experience: The Sound of Jazz and The Spirit of Jazz
SOUND
SPIRIT
Swing The signature rhythmic feel that defines jazz.
Listening Tuning in to others and responding with empathy.
Blues The essential form and harmonic progression at the heart of the tradition.
Collaboration Building something greater together than any one player could alone.
Syncopation The rhythmic vitality that sets jazz apart from other styles.
Self-Expression Finding and refining one’s own voice.
Improvisation Spontaneous creativity, jazz’s most recognizable innovation.
Leadership Guiding peers, mentoring younger players, and taking initiative.
Repertoire & Innovation Honoring the standards while pushing the music forward.
Creativity & Risk-Taking Embracing the unknown, both in solos and in life.
Musical Foundations
Personal Development
JAZZ “CAJW is a great experience for those who are serious about jazz, or just want to learn more. Everyone here is so nice, and it is all around amazing, with so many talented people.” —CAJW Student
BACKGROUND
STUDENT CONNECTIONS Each spring, CAJW Director Alexa Tarantino embarks on a week-long residency throughout Eastern Massachusetts that serves as both education and invitation—introducing students to jazz while encouraging them to take the next step and join CAJW. In 2026, she visited 17 schools across 15 communities, including 7 schools new to the program. While these visits do not always translate directly into immediate Workshop enrollment, the time spent with students is an essential part of our mission and an important first introduction to CAJW and Rockport Music. At the same time, we recognize that word-ofmouth—particularly friends encouraging friends to attend—remains one of the most powerful pathways to participation. Moving forward, we will continue investing in meaningful school experiences while tracking how repeated exposure, teacher and peer recommendations, school relationships, and year-round engagement ultimately lead students to the Workshop.
MULTI-CHANNEL OUTREACH Families in 2026 reported multiple pathways into CAJW: 38% 25% 18% 13% 6%
Attended last year Friend/word-of-mouth Spring Residency outreach School/teacher recommendations Website/social media
This year, CAJW also took a more intentional approach to building community before the summer workshop. The Cape Ann Jazz Messengers moved to an earlier audition process, allowing the ensemble to be formed during recruitment week and come together for a kickoff concert. Beginning as a group prior to the summer weeks gave the Messengers an early opportunity to build relationships, establish a sense of ensemble, and begin their musical journey together before the full workshop began.
“It was great to meet the others before the program started, and a great experience to try to throw together a performance without much rehearsal time.” – CAJW Messenger
HIGHLIGHTS
THE CAJW EXPERIENCE The heart of the Cape Ann Jazz Workshop is learning by doing. Each morning, students worked in small combos, rehearsing, listening, and improvising with faculty guidance. These ensembles fostered the collaboration and responsiveness central to jazz. In 2026, opening registration for both weeks allowed for a more individualized experience. High school students pursued music theory at their level and explored composition, transcription, and rhythm-section styles. Middle school students developed foundational skills through jazz history and listening, then applied them through improv circles and jams. Afternoon showcases featuring Messengers and Faculty brought the Workshop community together while inspiring younger musicians. The Messengers demonstrated the possibilities of continued growth and commitment, sharing both their musicianship and their development as artists.
SAMPLE DAY AT CAJW 9 AM Arrive, connect, and reflect 9:30 Warm up in instrument sections 10:15 Rehearse in small ensembles 11:15 Elective: theory, composition, style studies 12 PM Lunch 1:15 Guest artist masterclass 2:30 Guest Artist and Faculty performance
PERFORMANCES Week 1 students performed their culminating concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, taking the professional stage with Guest Artist Rodney Whitaker, who joined each ensemble for a tune. Week 2 opened with a signature New Orleans-style second line parade, bringing all students together on stage in the Rose Theater at Endicott College. The Messengers had additional performances throughout the community including: Endicott College • Rockport Farmers Market • Salted Cod Arthouse • Saluti Supportive Living, Inc. • Shalin Liu Performance Center
HIGHLIGHTS
OUR STUDENTS In 2026, the Cape Ann Jazz Workshop welcomed 75 students, up from 61 students in 2025, from 27 Massachusetts schools, including 16 who participated in both sessions. Building on our 2025 focus on rhythm-section recruitment, targeted outreach led to particularly strong interest from young bassists eager to work with Guest Artist Rodney Whitaker. Increased enrollment is shown below. A quarter of students received financial support through Rockport Music’s sliding-scale tuition program. Thanks to our generous scholarship donors, no student is turned away due to financial need.
INSTRUMENTS AT CAJW 2026
🎷 Saxophone — 20 🎺 Trumpet — 8 𝄢 Trombone — 5 🎶 Other Melody — 7 🎸 Guitar & Bass — 11 (+5) 🎹 Piano — 11 (+4) 🥁 Drums — 13 (+4)
2026 EXPANDED ELECTIVE ENROLLMENT Composition Rhythm Section Theory 3
Theory 2
Vocabulary/Transcription Theory 1
CAPE ANN JAZZ MESSENGERS Now in its third year, the Cape Ann Jazz Messengers are becoming an increasingly aspirational next step for young musicians, with 17 students auditioning in 2026 — up from 11–12 in each of the program’s first two years. Alongside their coaching responsibilities, the Messengers prepared and performed their own concert series in the community, developing their public speaking and set list curation experience, and cultivating leadership skills.
“This year more than previous, it seemed like trying out for the Messengers presented an attainable goal. I had a couple students express interest in trying out for next year” – CAJW Faculty
WHO WE ARE
FACULTY & STAFF ALEXA TARANTINO, CAJW Director
Wynton Marsalis describes Alexa Tarantino as a “one-woman wrecking crew, […] an indomitable force for expression, education, and absolute excellence.” A vibrant saxophonist, woodwind artist, and educator, she is a member and tours worldwide with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and has also joined artists such as Cecile McLorin Salvant and ARTEMIS. Triple-nominated as a Rising Star Alto Saxophonist in Downbeat’s Critics Poll, Alexa inspires audiences and students alike through her radiant artistry and mentorship.
ELIZABETH STEFAN,
Director of Education and Partnerships
Violist, educator, and arts administrator who leads Rockport Music’s education programs; she is passionate about music’s unique ability to inspire, empower, and create lasting impact in our communities.
GREG JUKES, Education Coordinator Percussionist, narrator, and co-founder of The Fourth Wall Ensemble; he builds meaningful collaborations and brings the transformative power of music to students through Rockport Music’s residencies and youth programs.
FACULTY Dave Adewumi (Trumpet, New York City]: First year faculty, award-winning touring trumpeter and educator, awarded 1st prize in the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Mike Conrad (Trombone, Cedar Falls): Associate Professor at University of Northern Iowa; recipient of four ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards. Steven Feifke (Piano, New York City): GRAMMY®-winning pianist and composer-arranger for ensembles worldwide. Emiliano Lasansky (Bass, Los Angeles): Bassist, composer, and Hancock Institute fellow; 2023 ASCAP Herb Alpert Award winner. Eric Metzgar (Drums, Rochester): Internationally touring drummer and educator; performed with Delfeayo Marsalis and Sutton Foster. Levi Saelua (Saxophone, Sacramento): Composer-saxophonist; winner of the Bucharest International Jazz Competition with Triism.
WHO WE ARE
GUEST ARTIST
RODNEY WHITAKER Each year, CAJW welcomes an internationally recognized guest artist who inspires students through their firsthand insight into jazz’s creative possibilities. Distinguished bassist Rodney Whitaker brought expertise and inspiration to CAJW, working with young bassists, sitting in with each combo, and sharing stories from his career alongside jazz greats.
LEARNING FROM A LEGEND In just one session with each ensemble, his extraordinary musicianship and ability to connect with students transformed the room, inspiring them to take risks, try new ideas, and play without fear of failure. His storytelling also gave students a rare connection to the living history of jazz: hearing directly from an artist who has performed on original recordings of so many jazz standards made the music’s lineage tangible, helping students understand that the songs they are learning are part of an ongoing musical tradition shaped by the artists who came before them.
“The concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center week 1 were a massive highlight for us parents and Elliot. What an amazing experience having Rodney join!” - Evan Bernier, parent
WHO WE ARE
EVALUATION We gather feedback from students, families, and faculty to understand not only whether students grow, but how the Workshop creates the conditions for that growth. EVALUATION RESULTS In 2026, core measures remained strong, while student and faculty feedback provided clear evidence that changes made in response to last year’s evaluation were having the intended impact. The expanded theory and elective options, developed directly from student feedback, were identified as strengths, while students participating in both weeks described meaningful opportunities to apply and deepen their learning. 2026 SUCCESSES 2 years Consistent survey data 100% Student satisfaction
3+ Program changes informed by feedback 203 Number of individual surveys (student, faculty, and parent/guardian) in a 2 year period
EVAULATION APPROACH The cycle of feedback → program change → evaluation → refinement is helping CAJW move from simply responding to student needs to anticipating them. With each year of data and reflection, we are building a clearer understanding of how students experience the Workshop at different ages, levels, and points of participation.
Students' Perspectives on Growth Beginning of week
End of week
Theory/Composition
Improvisation
8 6 4 2 0
Jazz Knowledge
Musical Confidence
A LOOK AHEAD Our vision for Cape Ann Jazz Workshop is to expand access, strengthen the musical experience, and deepen our impact across the region. BUILDING ON WHAT WE LEARNED Student feedback directly shaped new theory classes and electives, and expanding the opportunity to attend both sessions in 2026. Looking ahead, this year’s feedback points to opportunities to further expand jam sessions, rotating faculty, and student -led experiences. As CAJW continues to grow, keeping the core evaluative process will remain central to how we listen, learn, and refine the student experience. STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT As enrollment grows, we will continue shaping balanced ensembles across instrumentation and experience levels. Targeted recruitment, strong pre-Workshop playing submissions, and continued curriculum development will give us the information and structure needed to make thoughtful, well-informed ensemble placement decisions. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Adding a second week proved to be an exciting area of growth, with continued interest pointing to an opportunity to further develop this expanded pathway. A separate component for program development will be focusing on strengthening the Messengers program through intentional mentorship training and additional opportunities for students to develop and practice leadership skills. ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE Students return to the Workshop year after year because they are inspired by exceptional musicians, teachers, and the community they find at CAJW. As the program grows, we see an opportunity to extend that inspiration beyond the summer—creating a continuous throughline of jazz throughout the school year through high-level artistic experiences, mentorship, and opportunities to stay connected and engaged to jazz throughout the year.
TESTIMONIALS “There were so many highlights! […] Most of all, a highlight has been putting myself out there. This was my first time playing proper jazz, and in a group. The learning experience was just incredible.” – HS Student
“I'd be eager to experience this all over again. The making mistakes and growth and camaraderie. I'm eager to listen to more jazz and immerse myself in playing and learning. I can't wait to grow!” – HS Student
“I really enjoyed the theory class. I learned a lot. By the end of every day, my brain was tired in a good way.” – HS Student
“I learned a lot in this workshop. I especially improved in my confidence when improvising. I can't wait for next year!” – MS Student
“This is the best week of the year for my son. The quality of instruction is superb and the faculty and staff are so kind and supportive. My son is applying to jazz programs this fall and I don't think that this would have happened without CAJW, which he has attended since middle school. Thank you!!!” – CAJW Parent