Adults, Holiday Classes, MusicLabs
Jazz, at its heart, is a radical music, driving and representing social change in every era. Committed to supporting the next generation of gender diverse artists, Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) has created a workshop that can change lives.

Following the success of SIMA’s Young Women’s Jazz Workshops (2017 APRA Art Music Award for Excellence in Education), the Western Sydney Jazz Workshop will come to at Penrith Conservatorium of Music for the first time in 2026.

This two-day intensive program supports young women and gender-diverse students to build confidence in jazz and improvisation, strengthen ensemble skills, and study under expert mentors from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Jazz department.

Participants will be met with a fun, inclusive and supportive environment designed to build confidence, encourage creativity, and foster a love of making music together. Under the guidance of world-class jazz educators, students will be placed into small jazz combos, matched to their instrumental experience and musical background, and will learn to play in different jazz styles and develop improvisation skills on their instrument.

Pricing
Course Fee: $190
Duration
2 days
Age Suitability
13 to 23 years
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessibile

Eligibility

The Western Sydney Jazz Workshop is a targeted program for young women and gender-diverse musicians. Applications are open to all instrumental students who meet the following criteria:

  • Identify as female, non-binary and/or gender-diverse,
  • are between 13 and 23 years of age,
  • play an instrument or sing (minimum AMEB Grade 3 or equivalent skill level), and
  • can read musical notation (minimum AMEB Grade 3 or equivalent skill level).

The program welcomes musicians of all levels of jazz experience. If you have some prior experience reading music and playing your instrument, we would love to have you.

Workshop Goals

DEVELOP your skills and confidence to play jazz and improvised music.
BROADEN your knowledge of jazz and improvised music.
CREATE meaningful connections to form future groups and ensembles.
INCREASE your awareness of career options in jazz and related areas.
ENCOURAGE you to understand audition processes and apply for tertiary jazz courses.
NURTURE friendships and support networks among female-identifying jazz musicians.

Enquiries

Please direct any program enquiries to David Reglar (Creative Producer, SIMA) david@sima.org.au