Saint Xavier University’s McGuire Hall was filled with the sound of applause and the soulful swing of big band jazz as the 10th annual Southside Summer Jazz Camp concluded with a high-energy final concert on Friday, June 27.
The weeklong camp, hosted at SXU’s campus at 3700 W. 103rd St., welcomed 40 student musicians in grades 6 through 12 from across the Chicago area, including neighborhoods ranging from Homewood-Flossmoor to Lincoln Park.
“My favorite part about the camp is watching the young students develop a love for jazz,” said Dr. Shawn Salmon, SXU’s Director of Jazz and Commercial Music Studies and the founder of the camp.
Salmon was inspired to create the camp after his own life-changing experiences attending jazz camps as a young musician.
He credits those camps with helping him find a place of belonging, learn from inspiring teachers, and form friendships that lasted beyond the music.
When he was hired in 2014 to develop SXU’s new jazz program, he knew he wanted to launch a summer camp to provide those same opportunities to students in the community.
“When we started in 2014, we averaged over 40 students,” Salmon said. “As it did with so many things, COVID caused our numbers to dip, but we have steadily been recovering and this year we had 40 students once again.”
Now a decade in, the Southside Summer Jazz Camp is a well-established tradition that provides young musicians with a chance to grow both artistically and personally. Students are placed into traditional jazz ensembles and spend the week preparing three to five big band compositions, culminating in a final concert on the fifth day.
Throughout the camp, students rehearse under the guidance of Salmon and co-director Andy Garcia, SXU’s coordinator of music admissions and a 2021 graduate. They also participate in sectional instruction with camp faculty, where they receive specialized guidance on technique, style and fundamentals for their specific instrument.
In addition to ensemble and sectional rehearsals, a major focus of the camp is improvisation—the heart of jazz. For many students, this is their first time attempting a solo, and the transformation over the course of the week is one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.
“On day one, many students are hesitant to solo,” Salmon said. “But by day five, that fear is gone and replaced with confidence and joy.”
The camp is open to all experience levels and instruments, including trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, string bass, guitar, vibraphone and drums. Beyond musicianship, the experience itself fosters connection, creativity and community.
“The act of creating music with others is a one-of-a-kind feeling,” Salmon said. “Jazz brings everyone together, giving each student an opportunity to express themselves, create something original, and contribute to something beautiful and meaningful as a group.”
He added that some of the most powerful outcomes are the friendships that form. “So many good friendships come out of this—meeting others with a passion for the arts and jazz,” he said. “These friendships often continue on outside of camp, and it’s such an incredible thing.”
“What I like about jazz band is playing the cool percussion instruments,” said Shawn Williams, 12, of Oak Lawn. “I like the sound of the music and the songs we play are very energetic. I also like making new friends and how much the teachers care about us.”
Students echoed that sentiment.
Vivienne Gastineau, 13, of Hometown, said she appreciated the musical challenge: “I like the challenge of playing advanced level music and improvisation, and being able to play with older students who have more experience.”
For 11-year-old Daria Butnariu, of Oak Lawn, the week was about energy and expression: “What I really liked about camp is all the teachers and instruments because the teachers were nice and helpful, and the instruments sounded really cool. It was such a vibe. Also, I loved playing in the band because you can pick your solos and play whatever instrument you rock at.”
As the final notes of the concert rang out in McGuire Hall, the audience of family and friends erupted into applause, acclaiming not only a week of hard work and learning, but a community of young artists who had come together to create something memorable.
And Salmon said that is exactly what it is all about.
“My heart fills with joy and pride as I see campers cheering for each other after they take a solo for the first time,” he said. “They are creating lasting friendships and wonderful memories during their week at jazz camp.”
