Guildhall Jazz Festival |
Jazz
Jazz
By choosing to study with the Jazz Department at Guildhall School you will be joining a vibrant and diverse community of musicians. You will be mentored by an expert team of tutors in your preparation for a career in the modern music industry as a highly skilled improvising musician. Our approach is rooted in the origins of the jazz tradition and will guide you in developing your unique identity as a creative artist.
You are viewing:
About Jazz at Guildhall
About Jazz at Guildhall
Trumpet | Trombone | Tuba | Saxophone | Flute | Clarinet | Voice | Guitar | Piano | Bass | Drums | Percussion | Bowed-strings (Violin, Viola, Cello) | Composition & Arranging
Note: The Jazz Composition and Arranging pathway is currently undergoing review and is not available for application for the Academic Year 2025/26.
Now in its fourth decade, the Jazz Department at Guildhall School is among the most renowned and established of its kind.
The foundations of our course are:
- The origins and traditions of jazz
- An appreciation of jazz as an evolving art-form
- A recognition of your need to earn a living as a musician in the real world.
Our aims are:
- To equip you with the skills for a professional career in music
- To encourage your development as a creative musician
- To give you long-lasting connections with musicians in a collaborative environment
- To broaden your awareness of music and approaches to music.
Guildhall School is well situated to give easy access to central and east London’s thriving and eclectic jazz scene with jam sessions and a huge number of gig opportunities immediately on your doorstep.
Watch the video
Find out more about Jazz training at Guildhall from our students and staff in the video below.
Jazz contact details
Corinna Sanett, Jazz Department Manager
Tel: 020 7382 7180
jazz@gsmd.ac.uk
Undergraduate study
During the BMus programme, the Jazz Department offers the following classes:
- Principal study one-to-one tuition
- Improvisation
- Small bands (‘combos’)
- Harmony and Repertoire
- Aural and Transcription
- Rhythm
- Jazz History
- Jazz Style and Lineage
- Ensemble Arranging and Directing
- Keyboard Skills
- Jazz Composition
- Song-Writing
- Production Skills
- Large ensembles (Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Big Band, Studio Orchestra, Jazz Improvisers’ Ensemble)
- Vocal ensembles (Jazz Choir, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Jazz Singers)
- Rhythm Section workshops
- Doubling lessons for woodwind players
- Masterclass
Read more about the broader BMus programme structure.
Postgraduate study
During the Masters programmes, the Jazz Department offers the following classes:
- Principal study one to one tuition
- Improvisation
- Small bands (‘combos’)
- Harmony and Repertoire
- Rhythm
- Jazz History
- Jazz Style and Lineage
- Composition and Arranging (for small and big band ensembles)
- Jazz Composition
- Song-Writing
- Keyboard Skills
- Production Skills
- Large ensembles (Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Big Band, Studio Orchestra, Jazz Improvisers’ Ensemble)
- Vocal ensembles (Jazz Choir, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Jazz Singers)
- Rhythm Section workshops
- Doubling lessons for woodwind players
- Masterclass
Read more about the broader MMus and MPerf programmes structure
Performance
There are a large number of varied opportunities to perform on stage at Guildhall, in our state-of-the-art Milton Court performance spaces and at local London jazz venues. These opportunities include: performing in the Guildhall Jazz Festival in association with EFG London Jazz Festival, in one of the big band ensembles – Guildhall Jazz Orchestra and Guildhall Big Band, in one of three vocal ensembles – Guildhall Jazz Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Choir, in Trish Clowes’ Improvisers’ Workshop ensemble, and as part of small combos led by Jazz Department tutors.
Department Highlights and Alumni
- Guest artists including Rufus Reid, Jean Toussaint, Wayne Escoffery, Callum Au, Trevor Watkis, Byron Wallen, Josephine Davies, Liane Carroll, Giacomo Smith, , Tim Garland, Joe Stilgoe, Iain Ballamy, Julian Joseph, Yazz Ahmed, Jovino Santos Neto, Jim McNeely, Norma Winstone, Elliot Mason, Mark-Anthony Turnage.
- Masterclasses with Danny Grissett, Elaine Delmar, Peter Erskine, Helen Sung, Ari Hoenig, Tamir Hendelman, Ola Onabule, Jerry Bergonzi, Larry Grenadier, Yahael Camara Onono, Xhosa Cole, Katherine Windfeld, Jeff Tain Watts, Kenny Werner, Eric Harland, Ben Wendel, Women in Jazz, Steve Arguelles, Omar Puente, Mark Mondesir, Katie Thiroux, Pablo Held and the Tim Berne/Matt Mitchell Duo
- NAO
- Natalie Williams
- Stacey Kent
- Jason Rebello
- Cleveland Watkiss
- Luca Manning
- Kaidi Akinnibi
- Georgia Ellery
- Zara McFarlane
- Josephine Davies
- Malcolm Edmonstone
- Tim Garland
- Helena Kay
- Binker Golding
Inclusion and Outreach
Guildhall School is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, assisted through our Access and Participation programme and Guildhall Young Artists, Guildhall School's network of centres that provides inspiring performing and production arts training for children and young people.
The Jazz Department actively supports these programmes with staff, recent graduates and students contributing to external outreach projects, and by hosting events such as Girls in Jazz featuring high-profile female jazz musicians leading practical workshops for female instrumentalists and vocalists aged 11-18.
Upcoming Jazz Events
