Jazz Instrumental Intensive

July 13 - 17, 2026

This unique week-long intensive is designed for instrumentalists interested in gaining experience in playing Jazz. In addition to developing your artistry in daily performance opportunities, you will improve your musical understanding and abilities while working with faculty members from the Frost School of Music. Classes in Improvisation, Jazz Theory and Ear Training, Arranging, and Jazz Composition are included in the curriculum. To expand your knowledge of the music industry, workshops in Recording and Production, Entrepreneurship, and aspects of the Music Business are offered. Another feature of the Frost Jazz Intensive is the College Prep Workshop, which includes a seminar in Audition Preparation. In collaboration with the jazz vocal summer program, the week will culminate with a final concert performance.

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Meet the Program Director

Dante T Luciani

Graduate Program Director of Jazz Performance, Instrumental at the Frost School of Music, Dante Luciani is one of the most unique and versatile jazz trombonists on the scene today. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he conducted the award-winning Concert Jazz Band from 2001-2012. Among the band’s honors are Downbeat’s prestigious award for “Best College Big Band” in 2006, 2007, and 2010. The group was also nominated for a Grammy award for a collaboration with arranger/composer Maria Schneider.

Professor Luciani has also been a featured artist with the Naples Jazz Philharmonic and he is currently the trombonist with Ira Sullivan's Inter-Outer Continental Quintet. He has performed and recorded as lead trombonist/soloist with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band, the Arturo Sandoval, Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Nat Adderly, James Moody, Micky Roker, Shirley Scott, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Elvis Costello, Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra Sr., Frank Sinatra Jr., Gloria Estefan, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra and many others.

As a trombone soloist, Dante frequently tours Eastern Europe with Janusz Szprot and his Young at Heart band and has also performed regularly in Istanbul, Turkey at the Nardis Jazz Club. He was twice featured as a soloist for the " Salsa Meets Jazz" series at the Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club in Miami, Florida.

Recent Latin GRAMMY-winning recordings include sessions for Ed Calle’s Mamblue big band, as well as Arturo Sandoval's CD entitled Rhumba Palace. Others projects include P Diddy's Bad Boyz, solo work for vocalist Paula Doyler's project Over and Over, Trumpet Summit with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra, as well as work with the Frank Derrick big band, the Stephen Guerra big band, and, most recently, the 14 Jazz Orchestra under the direction of arranger Dan Bonsanti.

In addition, Professor Dante is a regular clinician/performer at the Pulawy Summer Jazz Workshop in Pulawy, Poland, and the Zywiec Trombone Festival in Zywiec, Poland.

Students must be in grades 9-12

Please submit two video or audio examples of songs of any contrasting styles, featuring you playing either by yourself, with a group or accompanist, or using a backing track such as iRealPro or an Aebersold recording.

On your video please tell us if there are any additional instruments you play, and which ensembles, if any, you perform with in school.
9-10:05 Classes in Improvisation, Jazz Theory and Ear Training, Jazz History

10:15-11:20 Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal

11:30-12:35 LUNCH

12:45-1:50 MASTERCLASS SESSIONS - Recording and Production, Entrepreneurship

2-3:20 Jazz Arranging and Composition Seminars

3:30-5 Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal
2025 Program Tuition: $1,250.00

Tuition includes program instruction and performance, daily lunch, and a program shirt. Program tuition does not include: on campus housing and commuter parking.

Note: Camp tuition does not include the initial application fee of $50.00.
On-campus summer housing will be available for non-local participants in the program.

Housing Check-in day: Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Housing Check-out Day: Saturday, July 18, 2026, before 11:00 am.

Cost for Program Housing: $1,000.00

Housing cost includes: Double Room occupancy for 6 nights, dorm linen package (bed sheet, comforter, pillow, bath towel, and washcloth), all daily meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner) in our dorm dining hall.

Students electing to add housing will need to indicate it on the application when asked. More information will be posted on the website once the University Housing Office finalizes all logistics for the new summer sessions. Any questions should be directed to: frostsummerprograms@miami.edu.