Swingin’ Summer Jazz Camp Returns
With New St. Johns Location for 2026
Registration is now open for the 8th Annual Swingin’ Summer Jazz Camp, scheduled for July 20-23, 2026 at its new location, Freedom Crossing Academy in St. Johns, Florida. Open to students from 7th grade through adults, the four-day camp offers instruction from professional educators and musicians in a focused jazz learning environment.
Camp curriculum includes vocal and instrumental instruction, jazz history, guest clinicians, jazz fundamentals, jazz repertoire, master classes, music theory, ensemble performance preparation, stylistic interpretation, improvisation, and a student jam session.
JULY 20-23, 2026
Freedom Crossing Academy
St. Johns, Florida
1365 Shetland Drive, St. Johns, FL 32259
Camp hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Tuition is $200 per student. A camp T-shirt, bottled water, and snacks are provided. Students should bring a bag lunch.
The camp week concludes on Thursday, July 23, 2026 with special events including a 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM post-concert visit to music vendor tables and a 4:00 PM student/faculty showcase concert. The concert on July 23, 2026 is free and open to the public.
Instrumentalists need to be able to read music and play their instruments proficiently enough to succeed in a big band jazz setting. At least one year of experience in a school jazz band is recommended, but not required.
Vocalists do not need to read music to participate, but will be performing in a soloist, not choral, setting.
Receive expert instruction in the following areas:
- Big Band ensembles
- Jazz combo and small groups
- Vocal jazz
- Jam session etiquette
- Jazz style concepts
- Jazz history and the roots of jazz
- Improvisation and music theory
- Instrument master classes
- Performance experience
For registration information, contact 904-703-8687 or email kellyscottmusic14@att.net. Additional information is available at zentz.org/summer-jazz-camp-2026.html.
2026 PRO FACULTY INCLUDES:
Lisa Kelly (Camp Director, Voice)
Eight-time DownBeat Magazine award-winning vocalist, composer, and arranger, Lisa is a highly regarded jazz vocal stylist, performing regionally and internationally in jazz clubs, for jazz societies, and at major venues and festivals, including the Kennedy Center, Vienna State Opera House, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and the Montreux, North Sea, and Pescara Jazz Festivals. The featured vocalist with many ensembles, including the Larry Elgart Orchestra, St. Johns River City Band, UNF JE 1, IAJE Sisters in Jazz, and the Florida Swing Orchestra, she has sung with many notables including Arturo Sandoval, Danny Gottlieb, Jane Monheit, and Ed Calle. With a B.M. and M.M. in jazz studies from UNF, Lisa has taught music theory and vocal jazz at LaVilla and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, is the vocal jazz instructor at UNF, and is a popular artist/clinician and adjudicator for music programs and festivals. Profiled in the 2010 book The New Face of Jazz and inducted into the 2013 Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame, she co-leads music groups with trumpeter J.B. Scott.
http://www.kellyscottmusic.com
Eight-time DownBeat Magazine award-winning vocalist, composer, and arranger, Lisa is a highly regarded jazz vocal stylist, performing regionally and internationally in jazz clubs, for jazz societies, and at major venues and festivals, including the Kennedy Center, Vienna State Opera House, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and the Montreux, North Sea, and Pescara Jazz Festivals. The featured vocalist with many ensembles, including the Larry Elgart Orchestra, St. Johns River City Band, UNF JE 1, IAJE Sisters in Jazz, and the Florida Swing Orchestra, she has sung with many notables including Arturo Sandoval, Danny Gottlieb, Jane Monheit, and Ed Calle. With a B.M. and M.M. in jazz studies from UNF, Lisa has taught music theory and vocal jazz at LaVilla and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, is the vocal jazz instructor at UNF, and is a popular artist/clinician and adjudicator for music programs and festivals. Profiled in the 2010 book The New Face of Jazz and inducted into the 2013 Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame, she co-leads music groups with trumpeter J.B. Scott.
http://www.kellyscottmusic.com
Don Zentz (Music Director, Saxophone, Vanguard Band)
An acclaimed music educator now retired after 41 years, Don completed his career as Director of Jazz Studies at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Prior teaching includes The Bolles School, Valdosta State University, UNF, FSCJ, and middle and high schools in Florida and Georgia. Don’s students have won numerous national awards and recognitions, including The Midwest Clinic, JEN, Bands of America, IAJE, the Montreux Jazz Festival, National Jazz Festival, Mark of Excellence, Swing Central, Basically Basie, Notre Dame Jazz Festival, and National Collegiate Jazz Festival. His awards include the John LaPorta Jazz Educator Award (JEN), National Jazz Festival Jazz Educator of the Year, Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame, Outstanding Undergraduate Professor at UNF, and DownBeat Jazz Education Achievement Award. A Keilwerth Saxophones performing artist since 1995, Don has performed with the Jacksonville Symphony, played lead alto with the Fabulous Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra ghost band, and continues to perform in pit orchestras for touring off-Broadway shows throughout the Southeast. He was elected to the Board of Directors of The Midwest Clinic in 2023.
https://zentz.org/
An acclaimed music educator now retired after 41 years, Don completed his career as Director of Jazz Studies at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Prior teaching includes The Bolles School, Valdosta State University, UNF, FSCJ, and middle and high schools in Florida and Georgia. Don’s students have won numerous national awards and recognitions, including The Midwest Clinic, JEN, Bands of America, IAJE, the Montreux Jazz Festival, National Jazz Festival, Mark of Excellence, Swing Central, Basically Basie, Notre Dame Jazz Festival, and National Collegiate Jazz Festival. His awards include the John LaPorta Jazz Educator Award (JEN), National Jazz Festival Jazz Educator of the Year, Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame, Outstanding Undergraduate Professor at UNF, and DownBeat Jazz Education Achievement Award. A Keilwerth Saxophones performing artist since 1995, Don has performed with the Jacksonville Symphony, played lead alto with the Fabulous Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra ghost band, and continues to perform in pit orchestras for touring off-Broadway shows throughout the Southeast. He was elected to the Board of Directors of The Midwest Clinic in 2023.
https://zentz.org/
J.B. Scott (Brass, Big Bands, Combos)
From Philadelphia, PA, J.B. Scott was the first graduate of the UNF Jazz Program under Rich Matteson. He then earned his master’s degree at FIU studying with Arturo Sandoval. He toured with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus (Japan), and led the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans, which was featured on the PBS special A Salute to Jelly Roll Morton, and performed with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. He has performed with legends including Al Hirt, Paquito D’Rivera, Jeff Hamilton, Lynn Seaton, and Tim Hagans. An Associate Professor teaching trumpet, J.B. is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at UNF, the Great American Jazz Series, and the award-winning UNF JE 1. A Warburton Signature Artist, popular adjudicator, artist/clinician, profiled in the book The New Face of Jazz, he was inducted into the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame.
https://webapps.unf.edu/faculty/bio/N00004206
From Philadelphia, PA, J.B. Scott was the first graduate of the UNF Jazz Program under Rich Matteson. He then earned his master’s degree at FIU studying with Arturo Sandoval. He toured with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus (Japan), and led the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans, which was featured on the PBS special A Salute to Jelly Roll Morton, and performed with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. He has performed with legends including Al Hirt, Paquito D’Rivera, Jeff Hamilton, Lynn Seaton, and Tim Hagans. An Associate Professor teaching trumpet, J.B. is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at UNF, the Great American Jazz Series, and the award-winning UNF JE 1. A Warburton Signature Artist, popular adjudicator, artist/clinician, profiled in the book The New Face of Jazz, he was inducted into the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame.
https://webapps.unf.edu/faculty/bio/N00004206
Laurie Zentz (Camp Host, Blue Note Band)
Laurie Zentz was the Band Director at Freedom Crossing Academy in St. Johns County until her retirement in 2025. She has been selected as Teacher of the Year six times. She was the Teacher of the Year for St. Johns County and a Top Five Finalist for Macy’s Florida Teacher of the Year. She was a 2016 and 2017 recipient of the Governor’s “Shine Award for Inspired Teaching.” She was selected for “Fifty Band Directors Who Make a Difference” by SBO Magazine. In 2023 she was awarded the “Woman of Action” Award by the EMMA Guild. Her jazz ensembles have been awarded “Most Outstanding Middle School Jazz Ensemble” at the Lakeside Jazz Festival three times, and in 2022 her middle school jazz ensemble won the virtual division of the National Jazz Festival. Her jazz ensembles have received superior ratings at the JU Jazz Festival, Music USA Festival, and the Koger Jazz Festival.
https://zentz.org/laurie-zentz.html
Laurie Zentz was the Band Director at Freedom Crossing Academy in St. Johns County until her retirement in 2025. She has been selected as Teacher of the Year six times. She was the Teacher of the Year for St. Johns County and a Top Five Finalist for Macy’s Florida Teacher of the Year. She was a 2016 and 2017 recipient of the Governor’s “Shine Award for Inspired Teaching.” She was selected for “Fifty Band Directors Who Make a Difference” by SBO Magazine. In 2023 she was awarded the “Woman of Action” Award by the EMMA Guild. Her jazz ensembles have been awarded “Most Outstanding Middle School Jazz Ensemble” at the Lakeside Jazz Festival three times, and in 2022 her middle school jazz ensemble won the virtual division of the National Jazz Festival. Her jazz ensembles have received superior ratings at the JU Jazz Festival, Music USA Festival, and the Koger Jazz Festival.
https://zentz.org/laurie-zentz.html
Jeff Phillips (Rhythm Section, Piano)
A much in-demand accompanist and artist/clinician, Jeff has served over 16 years in Lakeland, FL, as adjunct faculty for Harrison School for the Arts, nine years at Polk State College, and over 35 years teaching piano and tuba privately. A former staff pianist at Walt Disney World Theme Parks for 23 years at the Grand Floridian, he was a member of the Rhythm Rascals, The Hollywood Hit Men, and Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band. Jeff has performed with many notables, including Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Bob Draga, Allan Vaché, and the Midiri Brothers, in clubs, for jazz societies, and at major festivals regionally and internationally. He has appeared on many recordings, television, and radio. Expert on piano, organ, and tuba, Jeff created a signature approach to playing piano and foot pedal bass. He regularly presents music clinics, adjudicates, serves on jazz camp faculties, has written FMEA All-State audition materials, and mentored award-winning music students.
https://www.youtube.com/@1965JWP
A much in-demand accompanist and artist/clinician, Jeff has served over 16 years in Lakeland, FL, as adjunct faculty for Harrison School for the Arts, nine years at Polk State College, and over 35 years teaching piano and tuba privately. A former staff pianist at Walt Disney World Theme Parks for 23 years at the Grand Floridian, he was a member of the Rhythm Rascals, The Hollywood Hit Men, and Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band. Jeff has performed with many notables, including Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Bob Draga, Allan Vaché, and the Midiri Brothers, in clubs, for jazz societies, and at major festivals regionally and internationally. He has appeared on many recordings, television, and radio. Expert on piano, organ, and tuba, Jeff created a signature approach to playing piano and foot pedal bass. He regularly presents music clinics, adjudicates, serves on jazz camp faculties, has written FMEA All-State audition materials, and mentored award-winning music students.
https://www.youtube.com/@1965JWP
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JazzBluesFlorida.com
(561) 313-7432 WhatsApp Text Only Please
(561) 313-7432 WhatsApp Text Only Please
#JazzBluesFlorida #Jazz #Blues #Clubs #Concerts #Festivals
Making the scene since 2006!
Making the scene since 2006!
~ ~ ~ ~
Distributed by:
JazzBluesFlorida.com
(561) 313-7432 WhatsApp Text Only Please
(561) 313-7432 WhatsApp Text Only Please
#JazzBluesFlorida #Jazz #Blues #Clubs #Concerts #Festivals
Making the scene since 2006!
Making the scene since 2006!
