Registration is now open for Jazz Girls Day at Idyllwild Arts Academy —taking place from 9am to 4pm on Sunday, March 2, 2025 — an inspiring traveling masterclass that was founded by Dr. Colleen Clark in 2021 and is generously supported through her position at the University of South Carolina. Featuring masterclasses, jam sessions and a concert, the daylong clinic is free and open to all female identifying improvising musicians, middle school to high school aged (10-18 years old).

Since Jazz is historically a male-dominated genre, Jazz Girls Day is an important way to help bridge gender disparity for women in jazz through encouraging girls to learn jazz while also building a supportive community. Clark’s initiative aims to inspire students across the country and — while it’s already landed in many states from Arizona to Idaho — this will be the first time it lands in California amidst her ongoing vision to help cohost a USC Jazz Girls Day event in all 50 states by 2030. The future for women in jazz is important and Clark’s program puts a spotlight on the disparity while repairing it.

There is no audition, and a healthy variety of experience levels are welcome! All participants can expect to learn and be challenged in a supportive environment. It is an open invitation to middle and high school girls for a day of masterclasses, connection, concert and jam session. Taking place at Idyllwild Arts Academy (52500 Temecula Rd #38, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA), registration is required via: https://fmp.music.sc.edu/fmi/webd/JazzGirlsDay?homeurl=https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/music/community/community_events/jazzgirlsday.php