Focusyear Band 24

We are excited to introduce the new Focusyear Band 24.
Please meet a truly international ensemble:
Baptiste StanekFinn VidalJānis JaunalksnisJuan IbarraJure SlaparKatie WebsterMarta WajdzikThiago Duarte and Wes Georgiev

Coaches 23/24

Focusyear Band 20

meets Kurt Rosenwinkel (short excerpts)

Devin Daniels (USA/sax), Charley Rose (F/sax), Òscar Latorre (E/tp), Yossi Itskovich (ISR/tb), Fabio Gouvea (BRA/g), Sebastián de Urquiza (ARG/b), Jean-Lou Treboux (CH/vb), Paulo Almeida (BRA/dr/perc), Jorge Rossy (ES/dr/vb/comp) and coach of the week

Focusyear Band 20

meets Kurt Rosenwinkel "Welcome Home"

Devin Daniels (USA/sax), Charley Rose (F/sax), Òscar Latorre (E/tp), Yossi Itskovich (ISR/tb), Fabio Gouvea (BRA/g), Sebastián de Urquiza (ARG/b), Jean-Lou Treboux (CH/vb), Paulo Almeida (BRA/dr/perc), Jorge Rossy (ES/dr/vb/comp) and coach of the week

Focusyear Band 20

feat. Jorge Rossy, short excerpts

Devin Daniels (USA/sax), Charley Rose (F/sax), Òscar Latorre (E/tp), Yossi Itskovich (ISR/tb), Fabio Gouvea (BRA/g), Sebastián de Urquiza (ARG/b), Jean-Lou Treboux (CH/vb), Paulo Almeida (BRA/dr/perc), Jorge Rossy (ES/dr/vb/comp) and coach of the week

Focusyear Band 20

feat. Jorge Rossy, longer excerpts

Devin Daniels (USA/sax), Charley Rose (F/sax), Òscar Latorre (E/tp), Yossi Itskovich (ISR/tb), Fabio Gouvea (BRA/g), Sebastián de Urquiza (ARG/b), Jean-Lou Treboux (CH/vb), Paulo Almeida (BRA/dr/perc), Jorge Rossy (ES/dr/vb/comp) and coach of the week

Focusyear Band 19

Performing Kanon in 6/8 by Wolfgang Muthspiel at Jazzcampus Basel

Focusyear Band 18

Reflections with the band members

with Yumi Ito (CH/voc), Sergio Wagner (ARG/tp, Enrique Oliver (E/ts), Paco Andreo (F/tb), Szymon Mika (PL/g), Olga Konkova (N/p), Danny Ziemann (USA/b), Marton Juhasz (H/dr)

more videos

About

FOCUSYEAR AT THE JAZZCAMPUS

Focusyear is a one-year program for an internationally assembled ensemble of nine students, who will be coached in a regular cycle by acknowledged masters of the international Jazz scene.

The students selected for Focusyear receive a full scholarship covering tuition and the cost of living, in order to allow them to focus on music exclusively.

Over the course of the year, the ensemble creates concert programs and records an album, which will be produced in the school’s own recording studio. The band will perform regularly in the school’s Jazzcampus Club. The band is also playing selected concerts during the year.

Applications for Focusyear 2024/25 are welcome in September 2023.

Video

Wolfgang Muthspiel about Focusyear

For Focusyear, up to nine extraordinarily talented musicians will be chosen.
Applications can be sent for the following instruments:
saxophone / trumpet / trombone / horn / flute / clarinet / piano / guitar (electric, acoustic) / bass / vibraphone / violin / cello / drums / percussion / vocals

 


Apply

Application Process

— The Focusyear Auditions will be held on March 8 – 10, 2024. 

— Applicants should be aware that the Focusyear is a one-year engagement, September-July, which takes priority over other musical activities.

— Focusyear does not set a minimum or maximum age limit and admits students of any nationality. 

— Please be aware that we are looking for a level of musicianship that is comparable to master students or above. This program is also intended for professional musicians who want to refocus their own musical scene. 

— Deadline for Applications is December 31, 2023.   


A:

Application

— Please chose two tracks from your personal Jazz repertoire. A recording should be chosen which showcases your quality as a performer and soloist (improvisation). 

— Please send a link so we can listen to your music without having to download it. Either via Soundcloud (in "private" mode), via Youtube ("not listed" mode) or via Dropbox. (To upload the links, please insert it in a pdf document.)

— Please add one recording of your own compositions. 


B:

Required written information

— Personal details (CV, musical biography)

— Cover letter/Motivation letter (why do you want to participate in Focusyear)

— Previous musical activities, list of musical works, link to artist website

For applying please use this form.



Artistic Director
Wolfgang Muthspiel

Co-leader Focusyear
Sarah Chaksad


Imprint

Musik-Akademie Basel
Leonhardsstrasse 6
4009 Basel 

Design
Barbara Frey Grafik

Edited by
Organization & Office Focusyear

Concept / Programming
Sukoa AG <Interactive Technologies>

CMS
Magnolia