Summer Programs

Jazz Camp for High School Students

Xavier Jazz Workshop

Spend a week immersed in music, mentorship and creativity at Xavier University’s Jazz Workshop run by Ralph DiSylvestro: Xavier Professor, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, and local professional trumpeter. Open to high school musicians of all levels, this summer program offers personalized instruction, improvisation workshops, jam sessions, and masterclasses led by top Cincinnati jazz professionals. Students build skills, collaborate with peers, and perform in a final concert all on Xavier’s vibrant campus in Cincinnati, Ohio. Grow as a musician, connect with passionate educators, and experience the art of jazz. A quick audition video is required in your application.

  • Dates: June 22-26, 2026
  • Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
  • Cost: $495
  • Ages: Rising High School 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade Students
  • Location: Xavier Univesity campus, located in Cincinnati, Ohio

Jazz Camp Registration

Registration and Auditions will launch in late November 2025 for Summer 2026.

As a portion of your registartion, you will be required to submit an audition video. Due to the audition, the deadline for registration/auditions is Wednesday April 15th, 2026. Instructions on requirements for the audition video are provided below. 

Jazz Camp Audition Requirements

Audition Requirements:

Generally, to participate in this camp you will need to play one of the following instruments: Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone (alto, tenor, baritone), Piano, Guitar, Bass (acoustic or electric), Drum Set, or Vibraphone; Vocalists are also welcome to audition. Your audition will determine your placement in various Big Bands or Combos. All accepted applicants will be guaranteed a spot in at least one big band or one combo (possibly multiple groups depending on the demand for their instrument).

If you play another instrument not in the list above, please contact Ralph DiSylvestro at disylvestror@xavier.edu for questions about attending the camp. 

In your audition video, please state:

  1. Your Name
  2. The grade you are entering
  3. Saxophones: Tell us if you play any other saxophones, but please let us know which sax you prefer playing. You may split your excerpts between multiple saxophones if you like. 
  4. Trumpets: Please include a scale that showcases your range. If the highest note you can play is a “D” above the staff, then play a “D” scale.
  5. Drummers and bass players: make sure to choose one song that showcases a Latin feel of some sort: Samba, Bossa Nova, etc.
  6. Vocalists: You may choose to scat a melody and an improvised solo as if you were playing an instrument. Additionally, you may choose any jazz standard or ballad to perform: “Body and Soul”, “My Funny Velantine”, “But Not For Me”, “Misty”, “All of Me”, “Summertime”.

Song Requirements: 

A 12-bar blues of your choosing:

  • Ex. Billie’s Bounce, Straight no Chaser, Tenor Madness, etc.
  • Everybody must play a chorus of melody and at least 2 chorus’ of solo.
  • Guitar and piano players must perform 1 chorus of comping.
  • Bass players must perform a chorus of walking bass line.
  • Drummers must perform a chorus of swing time.

Another jazz standard in a different style or tempo:

  • Oleo (Bb rhythm changes)
  • Blue Bossa, Black Orpheus, On Green Dolphin Street (straight 1/8s)
  • There is no Greater Love, All the Things You Are, Four, Confirmation

Excerpts may be performed with a backing track, other live musicians or by yourself if you prefer.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Professor Ralph DiSylvestro at disylvestror@xavier.edu. 

Jazz Camp Director

Ralph DiSylvestro is a jazz trumpeter from Philadelphia, PA where he studied with Terell Stafford at Temple University as an undergraduate. He went on to receive a Master of Music at Northern Illinois University. During his eclectic multi-instrumental career, he has had the opportunity to create music with a number of prominent musicians as a lead trumpeter, soloist, pianist, composer, arranger and recording artist in the Philadelphia/New York Latin music scene. Musicians include, Dick Oatts, Jon Faddis, Conrad Herwig, Dennis Mackrel, Tim Warfield, John Swana, Donald Harrison, Bobby Watson, Jimmy Heath, Derek Hodge, Rodney Green, Claudio Roditi, Gino Vanelli, and Bobby Shew to name a few. From international jazz tours in Germany and Peru to national off-Broadway tours and performances at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club, Smoke and other prominent jazz clubs, Ralph’s career has provided many valuable and rewarding experiences that he has used to educate the next generation of burgeoning jazz students as he has maintained his teaching studio steadily since 1998.

Currently, you can see Ralph perform throughout Cincinnati but regularly at Cafe Vivace, Schwartz's Pointe, and Ghost Baby in the Blue Wisp Big Band, The Original Farm League Big Band, The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and a number of other groups, including his own, as a leader: The Cincinnati Jazz Messengers – A group dedicated to performing the music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers as well as some original compositions.