Student Letter

Tonight we’re sending out the yearly Student Letter to all students. If you don’t receive it via email, you can access the same information here.

Below you will find two links – one to the Student Letter, which contains all the information you need about the Workshop, and the other to the complete list of audition times for every student. The staff and faculty are looking forward to working with you this year. We have an exciting session planned for this summer – Sunday, July 14 through Friday, July 19.

Please make sure to read the Student Letter and note your personal audition time. 

Also, please select a theory level after reading the descriptions of the theory requirements for each level.  (*see paragraph explaining theory classes in the Student Letter).  EMAIL YOUR RESPONSE WITHIN 10 DAYS TO jathayde@comcast.net.

We realize that there is an enormous amount of information in the letter, but we need you to be sure you read it all!         

Click here for the Student Letter on the website:

Click here for audition times:

2019 Registration: Drums and Alto Sax are closed

Registration is still open, but only a few spots are left, so sign up now!

Check out the faculty list this year: it’s going to be a great Workshop! Our dates this year are Sunday, July 14th, to Friday, July 19th.

Sunday is audition day, and the Workshop starts on Monday, the 15th. We will be located at Acalanes High School again this year.

The Student Letter and list of student audition times for July 14 will be posted next Wednesday, June 26.

Drums are closed as of April 25th, but there is a waiting list. Sign up to reserve a spot if someone drops out.

Alto Sax is full as of June 10: please email Julie Athayde at jathayde@comcast.net if you’d like to be placed on the waiting list.

A Great Workshop!

Thanks to all the students, parents, faculty, volunteers the countless people behind the scenes who made the 2018 Workshop such a success. We can’t wait until next year!

In the meantime, enjoy the audio files of the Final Concert, thanks to the efforts of Kerwin Lee. We’ll see you next year. Head over to Facebook to see all the great photos people have been posting all week.

Friday Concert Audio!

Thanks to the efforts of Mark Seymour, we have the 2017 Friday Concert audio files for every combo! Listen here. Thanks, Mark!

Final Concert

This year’s workshop at Acalanes High School was a huge success: great students and faculty, great music, great food, and lots of new friendships.

Friday night’s performances were the highlight of the week. Students were able to experience performing on the stage of the beautiful Performing Arts Center, and the combos were outstanding, from start to finish. At the end of the show we all heard the instructors play together on Donna Lee, and each teacher’s turn to solo was fantastic. It’s not possible to pick favorites from such an incredible group, but seeing Doyle Cooper walk out and shred on Sousaphone was unforgettable.

Thanks to Mr. Wandesforde and Mr. Kapoor for setting up all the equipment and keeping the show running so smoothly, and to all the volunteers who do such an amazing job every year. Without you there would be no Workshop!

Head over to the LSMJW Facebook page to see all the huge number of wonderful photos taken throughout the Workshop by Kerwin Lee, Mary Jean Odmark, Janis Marie and many others. In addition to playing in a combo and taking photos and videos, Mr. Lee keeps everyone informed during the week by keeping the Facebook flow going. We all depend on him!

Here are some photos taken by James Jordan of yesterday’s after-lunch big band, playing the music of Kyle Athayde. Pianist Joel Wenhardt perfectly expressed the “Dance Party” vibe.

Thanks to everyone for their help and cooperation this week! We need volunteers on Saturday to help break down and return all the borrowed equipment. Please give some time to achieve this goal and clean up Acalanes for the coming school year. Your help would be appreciated. We start at 8:30 AM on Saturday morning.

Mr. Athayde has promised Johnny’s Donuts for the first 48 people to arrive. Thanks!

Friday Performance Schedule is Up!

The Friday performance schedule is set, and is online!

Click here for the performance schedule with the full list of combos and players.

Last night we had a great turnout at the jam session at Bonehead’s! Thanks to everyone who participated, and to Judy Haxo for setting it up! Check out the photos on Facebook.

Tonight, we had a full house at Lamorinda Music for Sullivan Fortner and Kyle Athayde. Incredible music! Click here for more photos from photographer James Jordan, trombonist and friend of the Workshop.

Tomorrow morning, join in at the 8AM Jam Session.

Monday and Tuesday!

Monday, the first day of the Workshop, was very smooth. The combos are set and everyone is settling in to our new location at Acalanes. We had our first morning Jam Session Tuesday morning at 8:00, led by Rick Condit, and it was fantastic. Don’t hesitate to jump onstage with your instrument and join in!

Tuesday night’s concert at Lamorinda Music’s Big Room was fantastic. The Ferber Brothers, Sullivan Fortner, Ellie Athayde, John Daversa and Matt Zebley…a great set of standards and original tunes.