ABOUT the VJC Alumni Band (main program; late spring/early summer)

 

Founded in 2016, the Valley Jazz Cooperative has consistently provided a wonderful space in which younger musicians can explore their creativity together in a supportive, nurturing environment. When the VJC moved into Scottsdale's Ravenscroft in 2021-22, the main program (for students in grades 8-12) was able to successfully relaunch in a fantastic, new home. And around the same time, the VJC had reached a sufficient, "critical mass" of passionate, creative, former members eager to participate in an alumni band program.

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So the VJC Alumni Band program was launched in 2022. And since the group's debut performance in early summer that year, the VJC Alumni Band has continued to perform in Ravenscroft Hall each June, with an ever-growing roster of young musicians interested in participating and playing together once more. And the audience for VJC Alumni Band events have continued to grow, as well.

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Moving forward, our plan for the main VJC Alumni Band program is as follows: The group will reconvene in the early part of each summer, rehearsing from late May through the end of June, with a performance each year toward the end of June. That time frame has been chosen so that recent HS graduates who go to college out of state can have an opportunity to be back among us then, should they be returning home to AZ for the summer. There will usually be about five weeks of rehearsals before a performance, so it isn't an overly-burdensome time commitment for participants.

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Any VJC Alum in good standing can apply to join and play. On certain instruments—such as saxophone—we will commonly have more than enough interest. From an instrumentation standpoint, if we end up having fifteen saxophonists wanting to play, we'll have to figure out what that really means (be it rotational playing on a concert or some other solution). The VJC Director will endeavor to be as fair as possible in deciding how we handle situations where there may be too much interest.

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To accommodate as many people who want to participate as we can, while still keeping things open and equitable for longtime (former) members who would like to return to our VJC musical community, we have created a few guidelines to help us most fairly achieve our goals. Here are our two main guidelines governing participation in 2026 and beyond:

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• We have a hierarchy for acceptance/participation in the VJC Alumni Band, prioritizing individual involvement:

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1) Alums who have been out of HS for one or more years receive the highest priority for acceptance/participation.

2) Alums who have just graduated from HS receive the second tier prioritization for acceptance/participation.

3) Alums who will be returning to HS in the fall receive the lowest priority for acceptance/participation, likely to help complete sections in the big band. (Please know your presence would be welcomed, and we would be very grateful for your participation. But we also hope you understand that this program is primarily intended for alums. So if your instrument is one that we already have enough college-age alums playing, then we will ask you to step aside or move to a different instrument, allowing the longer-term alum to play.)

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The bottom line? We'll do our best to involve as many interested VJCers as we can.

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• When we have an overabundance of interest on a particular instrument, here is how we determine who participates in the VJC Alumni Band:

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1) The primary factor in determining placement is, of course, the three-tier hierarchy mentioned above. 

2) Two secondary factors in deciding whether you might be placed include:

     • one's availability for consistent rehearsal attendance this year, and

     • how early one applies for this year's Alumni Band (assuming availability for rehearsals and the performance date).

3) Additional factors for placement will include:

     • how long you were a Valley Jazz Cooperative program participant (including VJC Online activities) when a high school student,

     • the consistency and quality of one's participation dating from when one was originally in the VJC (in high school days), and 

     • the consistency and quality of one's participation in any previous iterations of the Alumni Band (if applicable).

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The latter two ("consistency and quality") stipulations aren't principally about how well you play (or played). They are more about the "VJC Alum in good standing" point mentioned above. If you were consistently a positive contributor, had a solid record of attendance, and faithfully endeavored to get better from rehearsal to rehearsal, we will find a way to welcome you back (unless we are dealing with something like a saxophone avalanche).

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We are doing this together to make great music and have a great time together. And consistent, positive participation—back when you were in high school, and also in your ability to commit to regular rehearsal attendance now—will help us achieve all our goals.

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To provide more general information about the start-up process and to clarify the planned rehearsal schedule:

••• All rehearsals are on Tuesday nights. Most years, the first Alumni Band rehearsal will fall on the final Tuesday in the month of May. Rehearsals will continue on Tuesday nights throughout June.

••• The VJC Alumni Band concert will usually fall on the final Saturday night in the month of June, with a soundcheck beforehand. 

••• All rehearsals will take place in Scottsdale's Ravenscroft Hall, as will the concert. Ravenscroft is located at 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

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In most cases, auditioning will not be necessary. In rare cases (one possible scenario being if you haven't played your instrument for an extended period), an audition may be necessary to participate. In all cases, participation in any VJC ensemble or program (not just the Alumni Band) is at the sole discretion of the VJC Director.

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The final thing that is worthy of reiteration? We want this to be a great experience, both musically and socially. Sharing a communal, creative experience can truly be soul-restoring. So let's make sure the Alumni Band is always a fun, nurturing environment. And let us endeavor to enjoy one another's company—and honor each other's creative gifts—at all times!

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Sincerely,

Russell Schmidt

Director, Valley Jazz Cooperative

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To view a complete, cumulative list of all VJC Alumni Band concerts and performers, please CLICK HERE.

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GENERAL INFO about two related alumni groups: VJC Alumni Band+ and VJC Alumni Sextet

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1) VJC Alumni Band+

From time to time, there will also be an Alumni Band variant termed the VJC Alumni Band+, called together to perform on specific events. The Alumni Band+ will feature select program alums combining forces with a handful of leading area jazz artists in a side-by-side experience. This concept actually harkens back to the very first public performance by the Valley Jazz Cooperative (at The Nash in Spring 2016). On the second half of that event, VJC student participants had the opportunity to perform alongside Arizona-based jazz artists Brice Winston (tenor saxophone), Denny Monce (trumpet), and Mike Lake (alto trombone).

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While the main Alumni Band concert (held annually in late June) will remain open to as many individuals as we can reasonably place, any Alumni Band+ line-up will be comprised of alums and area pros invited by the Director. Various external factors necessitate this approach for Alumni Band+, but the primary reason is that these events will typically have a very narrow window in which we rehearse and perform, often just a single day. Identifying reliable core members is paramount to the success of any Alumni Band+ performance. Those who have consistently shown the strongest sightreading skills, and who have also demonstrated reliability, punctuality, and solid rehearsal attendance, will be atop the call list for VJC Alumni Band+ events.​

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The Alumni Band+ debuted in December 2024 for a Christmas concert in Ravenscroft Hall, with VJCers sharing the stage with area pros Paul Brewer (baritone saxophone), Denny Monce (trumpet), Mike Lake (alto trombone), Benjamin Hedquist (bass), and Ryan Anthony (drums).

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2) VJC Alumni Sextet (a.k.a. VJC Azure)

In an effort to create a framework for more performance opportunities for outstanding VJC alums—particularly those who are majoring or minoring in music—a VJC Alumni Sextet is being formed in 2026. It will have a dynamic roster, with the fluid line-up allowing more alums to participate over time, as this part of the alumni program grows. Also known as VJC Azure, this alumni sextet will debut in January 2026 in Jazzbird. More details will be forthcoming about this initiative after its initial performance.  

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