The Valley Jazz Cooperative first launched on the Mesa Community College campus in early 2016. By the next year, we began a second VJC at Glendale Community College. At that time, we began to go with a direction-based labelling for the groups: The East VJC (at MCC) and the West VJC (at GCC). MCC faculty Paul Brewer and Dave Schmidt (then of GCC, now retired) were instrumental in contributing to the continued growth of the VJC programs.

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After pivoting in March 2020 to providing instruction online, the VJC returned to providing world-class, in-person instruction in December 2021. Upon the VJC's resumption, the Ravenscroft facility became the main home to its educational programs. Following two fantastic years of providing outstanding instruction to awesome, young creatives in its Scottsdale space, the VJC was delighted to expand its offerings in December 2023 by once more returning to Mesa Community College, partnering with MCC's Paul Brewer. Moving forward, we are privileged to continue the VJC @ Ravenscroft and renew the VJC @ MCC program!

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There are currently three programs/ensembles planned for 2025-26 and beyond:

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• VJC @ Ravenscroft (Indigo) on Tuesday evenings, a BIG BAND, directed by Russell Schmidt

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• VJC @ Ravenscroft (Cerulean) on Thursday evenings, a COMBO program, directed by Russell Schmidt

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• VJC @ MCC (Sapphire) on Saturday mornings, a BIG BAND, directed by Paul Brewer

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Please note the VJC @ Ravenscroft programs/ensembles run from mid-December through early May each school year. The VJC @ MCC group (Sapphire) will meet from mid-January through early May, due to facility availability in the Performing Arts Center.

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All VJC programs are offered free of charge to passionate, committed, area music students (in grades 8 thru 12), following a successful placement audition. Auditions for this year's programs will take place throughout November. Our current schedule for VJC audition days is slated to run from Tuesday, November 4th through Tuesday, November 25th, all at Ravenscroft. Though mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there will also be one Saturday morning/early afternoon audition day (on November 22nd).

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After reading the general overview of VJC @ Ravenscroft and VJC @ MCC program activities found below, please fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION HERE. And if you have additional questions about the VJC, please contact its Director. Thank you.

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• Tuesdays @ 6:45-8:15 p.m. (mid-Dec. 2025 through early May 2026) - VJC Indigo Ensemble [BIG BAND] @ Ravenscroft

Russell Schmidt, Director

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Indigo often performs music by Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, Bill Holman, Quincy Jones, Thad Jones, Melba Liston, Oliver Nelson, Sammy Nestico, Maria Schneider, Billy Strayhorn, and other historically great jazz composers and arrangers. The group also performs brand new repertoire from VJC Publications by Jhoely Garay, Dave Rivello, Jueun Seok, Tom Wolfe, and others, including its director. Indigo performs three times a season, with at least two performances in Ravenscroft Hall, as well as one performance with a nationally-prominent, featured guest artist. The instrumentation for Indigo follows a traditional big band model: saxes, trumpets, trombones, guitar, piano, bass, drums, and (optional) vibraphone.

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We also offer the "VJC Hang" after rehearsals. Students who care for additional instruction in jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, and similar topics are welcome to stick around an additional half-hour each Tuesday to participate in the VJC Hang. This is an optional attendance activity, not required for participation. But for those who want to more fully explore jazz beyond their ensemble experience, the VJC Hang (for Indigo members) will take place on Tuesdays @ 8:15-8:45 p.m.

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• Thursdays @ 6:45-8:15 p.m. (mid-Dec. 2025 through early May 2026) - VJC Cerulean Ensemble [COMBO] @ Ravenscroft

Russell Schmidt, Director

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Cerulean explores the combo format, with a greater emphasis on improvisation than a big band can typically afford. The repertoire performed will likely be determined by the skill and experience level of the applicants this year. Like Indigo, Cerulean performs three times a season, with at least two performances in Ravenscroft Hall, as well as one performance with a nationally-prominent, featured guest artist. The instrumentation for Cerulean depends on the applicant pool, but traditionally will follow a jazz quintet to jazz septet model: 2-to-4 horns, 3-4 rhythm section.

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The "VJC Hang" will be offered on Thursday nights, as well. Students who want additional instruction in jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, and similar topics are welcome to stick around an additional half-hour each Thursday to participate in the VJC Hang. This is an optional attendance activity, not required for participation. But for those who want to more fully explore jazz beyond their combo experience, the VJC Hang (for Cerulean members) will take place on Thursdays @ 8:15-8:45 p.m.

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• Saturdays @ 10:00-11:30 a.m. (January 2026 through early May 2026) - VJC Sapphire Ensemble [BIG BAND] @ MCC

Paul Brewer, Director

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Sapphire will perform repertoire similar to that played by Indigo (Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Melba Liston, Oliver Nelson, Sammy Nestico, Maria Schneider, Billy Strayhorn, etc.). It will also performs brand new repertoire from VJC Publications by composers/arrangers Jhoely Garay, Dave Rivello, Russell Schmidt, Jueun Seok, and Tom Wolfe, among others. Sapphire will perform three times a season, with at least one performance at MCC (and the other two likely in Ravenscroft Hall). Sapphire will also have the opportunity to perform with a nationally-prominent, featured guest artist. As with Indigo, the instrumentation for Sapphire follows a traditional big band model: saxes, trumpets, trombones, guitar, piano, bass, drums, and (optional) vibraphone.

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MCC will also offer the "VJC Hang" opportunity. VJCers who want additional instruction in jazz improvisation, jazz theory, jazz history, and similar topics are welcome to remain at MCC an extra half-hour after rehearsal each Saturday to participate in the VJC Hang. This is an optional attendance activity, not required for participation. But for those who want to more fully explore jazz beyond their ensemble experience, the VJC Hang (for Sapphire members) will take place on Saturdays @ 11:30 a.m.-12:00 noon.

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Final thoughts/comments...

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1) Students interested in participating in VJC ensembles will need to play an audition, which will be scheduled after an online application has been completed and received. Auditions take place annually in November (and, if necessary on select instruments, into early December). Audition dates and times are announced in mid-October. While students are welcome to fill out the audition form at any time in advance of an upcoming VJC season, it probably makes most sense to wait to do so until early October each year. (For instance, one's plans or availability might change, should you apply 3-4 months in advance.)

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2) If a student wants to be in multiple ensembles and can consistently attend more than one ensemble rehearsal each week, they may do so, so long as such involvement doesn’t keep some other eligible student from participating in VJC programs.

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3) Regarding the online application form, please go ahead and toggle every option you might be considering. We would rather know up front that you are free on both Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday mornings, even if you only wish to play in one group. Then in the “Additional comments” field, please clarify your actual interest. You could write something like one of the responses shown below:

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• I've toggled Indigo and Cerulean boxes, but would only be interested in driving to Ravenscroft on Tuesdays OR Thursdays. I am free both days after school, but I’d only like to be placed in one group.

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• I've toggled both Cerulean and Sapphire, but would only be interested in being in one group, preferably the Saturday group at MCC.

 

• I've toggled all three groups, but only have time to do two. Please put me in any two groups if you can.

 

• I've toggled everything and hope to be placed in a pair of groups. I have listed multiple instruments and would ideally want to play saxophone in one group and guitar in another.

 

Thanks for providing information like that in your application, helping us better understand your interest and availability.

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And THANK YOU for your interest in joining the educational programs of the Valley Jazz Cooperative!