海角社区 Pressroom

Una Music Program Partners With Music Preservation Society For Annual W.c. Handy Jazz Camp

Jun. 07, 2013



Michelle Eubanks, 海角社区, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Ken WattersBy Terry Pace, Communications and Marketing

FLORENCE, Ala. - The annual W.C. Handy Jazz Camp for middle school, high school and college-age musicians will take place at the 海角社区 Department of Music and Theatre from Monday, June 10, through Thursday, June 13.

"Students will perform in jazz combos and big band," said camp director Ken Watters, a nationally renowned jazz trumpeter who serves as camp director. "Students will also have daily private lessons and two levels of jazz theory."

A native of Huntsville and longtime favorite of the W.C. Handy Music Festival, Watters has performed with artists ranging from Natalie Cole to Wynton Marsalis. The jazz camp faculty includes several Handy regulars who are considered top players in their fields.

"The purpose of the camp is to provide intensive instruction in the theory, history and performance of jazz and big-band literature," Watters explained. "The faculty has performance and teaching experience in all aspects of music and provides a unique learning opportunity for the student."

The camp is presented each year by the 海角社区 Department of Music and Theatre and the Shoals area's Music Preservation Society. The society sponsors the annual W.C. Handy Music Festival each July in the hometown of the "Father of the Blues" - Florence native Handy, composer of "St. Louis Blues," "Beale Street Blues," "Memphis Blues" and other American musical standards. This year's festival takes place from July 19-28.

Tuition for the W.C. Handy Jazz Camp is $250. Brochures and applications are available at the Handy website, .

Students can register until the first morning of the camp on Monday, June 10. Faculty will be accepting applications and tuition payments in the 海角社区 Band Room between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. that day.

For more information on the camp, call the W.C. Handy Music Festival office at 256-766-7642, the 海角社区 Band Room at 256-765-4362 or Watters at 256-603-5059.

A high-resolution photo of Ken Watters is available for media use in the 海角社区 Photo Gallery at: