Capital Music Awards — Candidate dossier

JazzWorks Canada

Music Educator of the Year

Overview of the candidate (biography, blurb, etc.)
In year 31 of continuous operation, JazzWorks is a nonprofit and registered charitable organization with 350+ active community members. Dedicated to providing educational and performance opportunities for amateur jazz musicians of all ages and levels, with a focus on adults and talented youth, through coaching by professional jazz musician/educators, in a variety of supportive settings. JazzWorks’ year- round program of activities includes the Annual Composers’ Symposium/Practice Retreat and Jazz Camp, monthly Jam Sessions and mentored Vocal Open Mics, master classes and workshops with visiting professional jazz performer/educators, “Jazz in the Schools” Programs and the "JazzWorks Presents" concert series. JazzWorks values its membership in the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and keeps the jazz community informed through an informational website and through our 800+ subscribers weekly Jazz Happenings newsletter. A longstanding jazz education and presenting organization in the Ottawa/Gatineau music community, JazzWorks was founded in 1994 by current Executive Director/ Producer Judith Humenick, who has led the organization from its early stages as an annual summer weekend workshop to its current offerings – a wide range of community jazz education programming. Throughout. 2025, JazzWorks celebrated its thirtieth anniversary with series of community events which included a Vocal Dinner Evening Concert, Young Artists Concert featuring outstanding high school jazz musicians and former JazzWorks scholarship winners and a Great Big Jam Session featuring three local host bands and an extended Jam session for community participants. Since its inception, JazzWorks’ high-level jazz education programs have always been offered within the context of “building community.”
Pedagogical program or approach
Jazz Camp JazzWorks flagship program is the annual Jazz Camp, a three-day immersive summer music school for amateur jazz musicians, taught by a professional jazz faculty at the CAMMAC Music Centre in Harrington, Quebec. JazzWorks Camp attracts participants from the Ottawa/Gatineau/Montreal areas and remains one of very few adult jazz camps in North America. https://www.jazzworkscanada.com/about-jazz-camp.html JazzWorks' Jazz Camp program includes: Individual and ensemble coaching Master classes Jam sessions Improvisation Arranging and composition Learning about jazz terminology History of jazz Music Theory Accompanying How to use sound equipment Extended performance techniques Beyond educational sessions, participants work toward presenting their music at three camp concerts, including a Faculty Concert, a Jazz Combo Concert, and a Vocal Concert (vocalists accompanied by faculty). Performance allows the participants to incorporate all that they have learned. Since the very first Camp, JazzWorks has offered scholarships to accomplished high school music students. The scholarships subsidize full and partial tuition and room and board for students to attend Camp. In partnership MusicFest Canada and private and corporate donors, JazzWorks has awarded more than 80 scholarships since 1994. A significant number of youth scholarship winners have become professional jazz performers, composers, and/or educators, including, for example, Steve Boudreau and KellyLee Evans. https://www.jazzworkscanada.com/scholarships.html Jazz instrumentalists have historically often been perceived as male gendered. As a balance, JazzWorks sponsors "Gals in the Band" scholarship for an outstanding amateur female instrumentalist. Jam Sessions JazzWorks’ open public Jam Sessions have been running monthly for thirty-one years. The supportive environment allows musicians and vocalists to hone their skills at musicianship and performance. Unlike other Ottawa jams that are hosted by professional musicians, JazzWorks Jam Sessions are hosted by JazzWorks participant bands and other guest community jazz groups. https://www.jazzworkscanada.com/jam-sessions.html Vocal Open Mics Designed especially for singers to improve their vocal skills, JazzWorks holds Open Mic sessions once a month where a professional musician accompanies and mentors budding jazz singers. This emphasis on learning jazz is unique in Ottawa’s open mic scene. https://www.jazzworkscanada.com/vocal-open-mics.html Composer’s Symposium Also unique is JazzWorks’ Annual Composer's Symposium where amateur musicians receive coaching from professional jazz artist/composers on writing jazz music and discover new ways to challenge and express themselves artistically. JazzWorks Presents Concerts and Workshops With sponsorship from the Department of Canadian Heritage and often in partnership with local Embassies The "JazzWorks Presents" Concert Series brings top tier Canadian and international artists to Ottawa. Often these musicians also present workshops on topics such as jazz drumming, vocal jazz technique and style, composition, and improvisation. https://www.jazzworkscanada.com/jazzworks-presents-concert-series.html Jazz in the Schools JazzWorks also partners with schools to bring Ottawa based professional jazz musicians into high schools. Thousands of local students have been exposed to jazz music and its history through JazzWorks’ long standing "Jazz in the Schools" program. Jazz Happenings Newsletter Volunteers produce a weekly newsletter, Ottawa Jazz Happenings, that has more than 800 subscribers. The newsletter includes a listing of jazz events in Ottawa and Gatineau, is available to everyone who signs up, musicians and enthusiasts alike.
Website link (video, platform, etc.) (optional)
jazzworkscanada.com
Sample materials (guides, leaflets, teaching aids, etc.)
https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_0_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Workshops.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_1_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Jammin_.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_2_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Open_Mic.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_3_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Jazz_Camp.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_4_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Jazz_Happenings.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_5_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Student_Scholars.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_6_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Scholars_to_Professionals.pdf https://twosstkkkfftfjxlrydv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/candidate-files/13e0131c-fb78-4841-9c2e-04730e213880/62_7_CMA2026_Music_Educator_JazzWorks_Camp_Participants.docx
Pedagogical impact summary
Nov. 14, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2025 Number of JazzWorks Friends (members): 175 JazzWorks members. 175+ associate members (partners, faculty, school teachers, corporate sponsors, etc.) Number of Jazz in the Schools sessions: 3 Number of Jazz in the Schools students served: 50 Number of registrants Jazz Camp, 2025: 107 Number of jazz concerts: 3 Concerts on the 30th Anniversary Weekend 4 JazzWorks Presents Concerts Number of jam sessions: 12 Number of Vocal Open Mic Sessions: 10 Workshops in Ottawa: JazzWorks Presents Workshops: 1. The Amina Figarova Quartet 2. The Kate Wyatt Trio Album Launch 30th Anniversary Workshops: 1. Claire Devlin: "Improv Games for the Apocalypse" 2. Nick Maclean: "Problem Solving for Jazz: How to Practice with Clarity, Structure, and Direction" Jazz Camp/Composer Symposium Workshops: 21 Workshops: “Why, How and When to Record Your Jazz Project” with Jae Sinnett “Ideas For Organising Your Practice Time” with Janis Steprans “The Art of the Duo” with Sienna Dahlen & Adrian Vedady “Singing Bebop” with Amy London “Perform With Ease and Confidence: Hypnotherapy For Performance Anxiety” with Sienna Dahlen “Jazz Piano for Non-Pianists” with Kate Wyatt “Developing Core Rhythmic Skills” with Nick Fraser “Digital Literacy for Musicians” with Ben Sigerson “Singing With Freedom” with Ayelet Gottlieb “Jazz as a Lifestyle...The Art of Living the Craft” with Jae Sinnett “Jazzing the Folk and Folking the Jazz”with Sienna Dahlen “What To Do Next?” with Kate Wyatt “Economy of Compositional Techniques from the Player’s Perspective” with Kirk MacDonald Jamming - Coached Sessions “Back to Basics” with Amy & Lorne Intermediate with Janis & Brian Advanced with Nick & Jocelyn “Jamming with Vocalists” with Ayelet & Ben Instrumental Improvisation Workshops: Instrumental Beginner with Adrian Vedady Instrumental Intermediate with Janis Steprans Instrumental Advanced with Jocelyn Gould Vocal Improvisation Workshop with Steve Boudreau