Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (Christian Scott) is Artist-In-Residence
Registration is now underway for aspiring young musicians who would like to study with world class professionals at the annual Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, according to Jackie Harris, executive director of the jazz camp and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (New York).
Offering three weeks of personalized training led by New Orleans’ master music educators, this unique camp will take place June 8 through June 26, 2026 (Monday – Friday) at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, 2800 Chartres Street.
A project of the New Orleans Arts and Cultural Host Committee, the Louis Satchmo Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp has been providing high quality music education for 32 years to students from metro New Orleans and across the U.S.
Classes have traditionally been offered in woodwinds, brass, piano, electric and upright bass, drums, guitar, strings, vocals, big band, hip hop engineering, and large and small ensembles, as well as swing and second line dance. Students must be enrolled in the jazz camp as instrumentalists or vocalists to qualify for the hip hop course. They must also be between the ages of 14 and 21 and be invited to participate in hip hop.
New Orleans born NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison Jr. is the jazz camp’s Artistic Director. Legendary pianist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) is this year’s Artist-In-Residence. Adjuah is the nephew of jazz camp Artist Director Harrison.
Percussionist Jonathan Bloom is the jazz camp’s coordinator/recruiter. Other 2026 jazz camp faculty members include Darrell Lavigne and Dwight Fitch Jr., piano; Chris Severin and Brian Quezergue, bass; Herman Lebeaux and Jonathan Bloom, drums; Don Vappie, guitar; Marlon Jordan and Andrew Baham, trumpet; Roderick Paulin and Andy Bower, saxophone; Matt Rhody, strings; Stephanie Jordan and Kevin Gullage, Jr., vocals; Breonna Jordan, swing dance; Kelly Dixon and Norman Dixoin, second line dance; “Deezle” and “BlaqNmilD”, Hip Hop Engineering.
Adjuah is a two-time Edison Award-winning, Doris Duke Award in the Arts-winning, six-time Grammy-nominated sonic architect as well as a designer of innovative technologies and musical instruments including the Adjuah Trumpet and Chief Adjuah Bowl. The NOCCA and Berklee College of Music graduate is the founder and CEO of Stretch Music, an App and Recording Company.
From 2016 to 2019, Adjuah served as Artist in Residence and Artistic Director of Harlem Stage in New York where he created the Stretch Music Festival. He developed a wide range of programming including Stretch Music Intensives, masterclasses in collaboration with local high schools and institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard.
Since 2006, Adjuah has led international workshops and masterclasses for musicians at all stages of development alongside providing private instruction with a focus on underserved communities.
Adjuah is the Chief and Oba of the Xodokan Nation as well as a Grand Griot of New Orleans. Since 2002, he has released fourteen critically acclaimed studio recordings, four live albums and one greatest hits collection. Adjuah has collaborated with Prince, Mos Def (Yasin Bey), Thom Yorke, McCoy Tyner, Marcus Miller, Flea, Eddie Palmieri, Robert Glasper as well as heralded poet Soul Williams. He is an inaugural member of the Black Genius Brain Trust.
Tuition for the jazz camp varies for in-state, out-of-state and returning students. Scholarships are also available. Students applying for full or partial scholarships must be recommended by their music teacher.
New students must be between 10 and 21 years old and have a minimum of two years of instruction at school or through private lessons. For new students only, video auditions are mandatory. The videos may be posted on YouTube or Vimeo or submitted through WeTransfer. New students must also complete registration after fulfilling all requirements at https://louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com/registration/
Returning students must complete registration requirements at https://louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com/registration/ Additional information is available by calling 504 715-9295 or email jazzcamp@louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com or jclarmstrong2024@gmail.com
The Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp is sponsored by the New Orleans Arts & Cultural Host Committee along with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, the Stephen Colbert Americone Dream Fund, Louis Forche, the Gia Maione Prima Foundation, Arts New Orleans, the Louisiana Office of Culture Development, the Goldring Family Foundation, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Ruth Fertel Foundation, Dr. Sidney and Vaughn Fauria, Mark and Kara Samuels, Newburns, Dr. Christopher Marrero, the Preservation Hall Foundation, Tom Rieke, Kent and Christine Jordan, Marlin and Renee Gusman and Dr. Michael White.
For more information call 504 715-9295.
