--- title: "Summer Camp 2026 — Kansas City Jazz Academy" description: "Classes, rehearsals, luncheon learns, and the Summer Showcase — photographs from Kansas City Jazz Academy's 2026 Summer Instrumental Combo Camp." canonical: https://kcjazzacademy.org/summer-camp/2026/ --- A summer of jazz # Summer Camp 2026 From the rehearsal room to the Gem Theater stage — moments from a week of learning, listening, and making music together. Photography by Houston Gonzales * [![A director cues a standing ensemble of young brass and saxophone players in purple camp shirts onstage.](/_astro/IMG_1724.XZJWN3qT_1uElDz.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1724.XZJWN3qT_gfdKp.webp) * [![A student writes on a small whiteboard while an instructor holds it steady during class.](/_astro/IMG_1652.DwJS7KH4_1nQz9r.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1652.DwJS7KH4_1XaXnO.webp) * [![An instructor leads a classroom discussion with seated students and their instruments.](/_astro/IMG_1655.CaW3Oo38_wJN5E.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1655.CaW3Oo38_174ck2.webp) * [![An instructor raises a hand to direct students rehearsing together behind music stands.](/_astro/IMG_1662.Bfax_ZrK_15NXrC.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1662.Bfax_ZrK_1F8mG0.webp) * [![Students rehearse with mallet percussion, drums, and upright bass in a classroom.](/_astro/IMG_1666.BEpsKUDJ_Z1aWNTT.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1666.BEpsKUDJ_ZADpFw.webp) * [![A standing saxophonist plays onstage alongside seated trombone, trumpet, guitar, and rhythm players.](/_astro/IMG_1675.CC94l8BH_ZjO9Wt.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1675.CC94l8BH_Z1yehPD.webp) * [![Campers and adults seated around tables listen to a speaker with a microphone during a luncheon learn.](/_astro/IMG_1682.CR-ZJOXg_tMARW.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1682.CR-ZJOXg_ZJBw0d.webp) * [![Young musicians in purple camp shirts applaud onstage with their instruments and music stands.](/_astro/IMG_1698.D9CGuFGS_Z2eTYkG.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1698.D9CGuFGS_1AR1A5.webp) * [![A drummer sits at the drum kit while a fellow camper applauds beside a pair of congas.](/_astro/IMG_1706.BVtrJFKE_19wVpR.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1706.BVtrJFKE_1IQkEf.webp) * [![A trumpet player performs with a small ensemble of saxophones, keyboards, and rhythm players onstage.](/_astro/IMG_1734.Btvu1-bz_f5Ovi.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1734.Btvu1-bz_ZYjimR.webp) * [![A seated tuba player performs beside a saxophonist, with a percussionist at the mallet instrument behind them.](/_astro/IMG_1739.B4jQtAS0_A6xla.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1739.B4jQtAS0_ZDizx0.webp) * [![A row of saxophone, trumpet, and trombone players performs together in purple camp shirts.](/_astro/IMG_1761.CxirVPSN_ZHLrdP.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1761.CxirVPSN_Z1Wbz70.webp) * [![A student plays the drum kit beside an upright bassist, with a tuba in the foreground.](/_astro/IMG_1771.DBwToji-_Zcw7Ae.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1771.DBwToji-_mMgD9.webp) * [![A standing saxophone soloist plays into a microphone in front of the seated ensemble.](/_astro/IMG_1788.BuzjY7pZ_ZrQ0ne.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1788.BuzjY7pZ_Z1Gg8go.webp) * [![A saxophone soloist stands behind a music stand while other saxophonists sit alongside.](/_astro/IMG_1792.Bmcr4R1Y_Z1bPvMC.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1792.Bmcr4R1Y_Z2qfDFM.webp) * [![A student plays mallet percussion behind a microphone, surrounded by seated ensemble members.](/_astro/IMG_1796.CsvYwOgu_Z1mvdOI.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1796.CsvYwOgu_2tgM63.webp) * [![A trumpet soloist stands above the music stands while seated saxophone players follow along.](/_astro/IMG_1801.CVEoMZXP_1O4bV8.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1801.CVEoMZXP_zE42X.webp) * [![A saxophone player stands to perform a solo among rows of seated musicians and music stands.](/_astro/IMG_1806.87H63jfK_29LP5n.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1806.87H63jfK_Z2l5Tub.webp) * [![A standing trombonist extends the slide above the seated saxophone section during a solo.](/_astro/IMG_1816.CJLvSSDE_Z1AXtNf.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1816.CJLvSSDE_2eNw7w.webp) * [![A wide stage view shows a seated jazz ensemble with piano, saxophones, brass, and percussion.](/_astro/IMG_1819.COjOmPrO_1NT7xe.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1819.COjOmPrO_ztYE4.webp) * [![A trombone soloist plays with the slide extended toward a microphone beside the seated horn section.](/_astro/IMG_1823.DDtLiS1r_iMjju.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1823.DDtLiS1r_ZUBNyF.webp) * [![A standing trombone player performs at the front of the stage while the seated ensemble looks on.](/_astro/IMG_1827.C3DTXxsS_ziqLf.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1827.C3DTXxsS_ZE6G6U.webp) * [![A student holding a saxophone speaks into a microphone beside the seated ensemble and pianist.](/_astro/IMG_1832.DyjB6Moa_MQ2wn.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1832.DyjB6Moa_Zqy5lM.webp) * [![A trumpet soloist plays into a microphone among seated saxophone and trombone players.](/_astro/IMG_1840.CubCWXIa_Z2rTryn.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1840.CubCWXIa_1nRymo.webp) * [![A student plays electric guitar behind the seated saxophone section near the grand piano.](/_astro/IMG_1850.CCVAnSIp_1Jhpcs.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1850.CCVAnSIp_uRhji.webp) * [![A trombone soloist stands at a microphone while two seated trombonists watch from behind music stands.](/_astro/IMG_1852.RDJSLWGn_ZNIRW.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1852.RDJSLWGn_Z1fdQL7.webp) * [![A student plays the grand piano at the side of the stage beside a keyboard and the seated horn section.](/_astro/IMG_1854.CanQpulg_1ovGCa.webp)](/_astro/IMG_1854.CanQpulg_a6yJ0.webp) * [![A drummer and a standing percussionist perform together behind cymbals, reflected in a glossy piano lid.](/_astro/IMG_5200.62SzGlHZ_SCbNc.webp)](/_astro/IMG_5200.62SzGlHZ_1sVA2z.webp) * [![A close view of a student pianist's hands on the keys, reflected in the polished side of the grand piano.](/_astro/IMG_5204.DovgBj8-_Z1POSFS.webp)](/_astro/IMG_5204.DovgBj8-_Z1gvurv.webp) * [![A side-stage view of guitar, upright bass, and drums with the musicians reflected in the piano lid.](/_astro/IMG_5206.DrpXdA1R_ccTdc.webp)](/_astro/IMG_5206.DrpXdA1R_Lwirz.webp) Close ← Previous Next → [About Summer Instrumental Combo Camp →](/#summer-camp)