The Jazz Program at the Steans Institute is all about composition and collaboration in small groups. From day one, 15 fellows dive into rehearsals, experimenting with different instrumental combos and creating new music under the guidance of co-Artistic Directors pianist Billy Childs, bassist John Clayton, and saxophonist Steve Wilson. They learn to adapt to the dynamic nature of jazz performance, where flexibility is key. By the end of the week, the musicians come together as three quintets to debut their original compositions at the Jazz Grandstand concert.
