Seattle JazzED Uplifts Next Generation of Femme Jazz Musicians with New Workshop
Photo courtesy of Seattle JazzED.
Seattle JazzED, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering young people with music education, has just announced a new program dedicated to forging pathways for historically underrepresented talent in jazz. Recognizing that female-identifying musicians are often underrepresented in traditional big bands, JazzED launched the new Femme Jazz Collab Workshop.
This new spring workshop is designed for student musicians in grades 7-12 who identify as femme, queer, trans, gender-expansive, and nonbinary. The three-week program offers a community-centered environment where students can explore improvisation, ensemble playing, and musical self-expression. The program intentionally focuses on building confidence, artistic voice, and a powerful sense of belonging in jazz spaces.
The initiative will be led by local trombonist and JazzED teaching artist Audrey Stangland, with curriculum developed by Megan Vinther. Vinther, a Seattle-area composer and Music Director of the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, drives her work with a mission to expand the visibility of underrepresented people in the performing and composing community—values central to the Femme Jazz Collab Workshop.
The workshop culminates in a must-see final performance with the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 4 p.m.
“Many of the musicians in our organizations still face an uphill battle when it comes to representation and feeling welcome in spaces. Our goal is that students who join the Femme Jazz Collab workshop feel a sense of joy and belonging during our time together,” Vinther said in a recent press release.
This new workshop builds on Seattle JazzED’s legacy of femme-centered programs, which previously launched the Girls Ellington Project (now the Femme Ellington Project). This program is open to musicians with at least two years of experience on any instrument, including voice.
Program Details
Workshop Dates: Tuesdays, May 12, 19, and 26
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: STG at Kerry Hall, 710 E Roy St., Seattle
Final Performance: Saturday, May 30, at 4 PM with Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra at STG at Kerry Hall
For more information or to register, visit the Seattle JazzED website or contact programs@seattlejazzed.org.
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