A Note from the Director

Welcome to the Louis Armstrong Jazz Performance Program. 

Jazz is more than a musical style; it embodies a way of listening, communicating, questioning, and creating all in real time. At its core, improvisation encourages intentional responses, acceptance of uncertainty, and the discovery of new ideas through exploration and collaboration. 

Our program is built on an understanding of the jazz tradition and its lineage, while also acknowledging the music's ongoing evolution. Students engage with the work of jazz masters, develop both technical and artistic fluency, and explore the genre’s history. Simultaneously, they are encouraged to cultivate their individual artistic voices. We maintain that the future of jazz relies not only on preserving its legacy but also on expanding it through curiosity, experimentation, and meaningful artistic expression. 

Columbia provides a uniquely inspiring environment for this work. Within a community of scholars, artists, scientists, and thinkers from diverse disciplines, students are encouraged to view jazz as part of a broader dialogue concerning culture, creativity, and human experience. Performance, composition, analysis, research, and collaboration are all interconnected and mutually informative. 

Whether your aspirations are to become a performer, composer, educator, researcher, or lifelong musician, I hope this program challenges you to listen more deeply, think more broadly, and create with honesty and imagination. 

JOHN CHIN DIRECTOR, LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ PERFORMANCE PROGRAM