You can have the faculty giving you masterclasses in the morning, eating lunch with you, going to their concerts, they play with you in the jam sessions, so it's really inclusive, and it's just a very feelgood vibe. Come to Sligo Jazz, it's worth whatever it takes to get here.
—Noah Fishman, former participant
Sligo Jazz Project’s annual Summer School and Festival runs from 22-27 July 2025, bringing a team of 33 world-class musicians from all over the world to teach and perform in Sligo over six days. From 22–27 July 2025, Sligo will once again become a global hub for music lovers, students, and jazz legends, as it hosts Europe’s largest and most inclusive Jazz Summer School alongside its internationally renowned Jazz Festival. The countdown is on for world-class jazz education and live performance.
At the heart of this milestone year is the Summer School, where a stellar faculty of 33 world-class musicians will mentor, inspire and perform for participants of all levels and backgrounds. With a daily schedule running from 10am to late night, this six-day immersive experience blends education, inspiration and pure entertainment and has earned SJP its reputation as Europe’s premier jazz education event.
A previous participant, Noah Fishman, says: “You can have the faculty giving you masterclasses in the morning, eating lunch with you, going to their concerts, they play with you in the jam sessions, so it's really inclusive, and it's just a very feelgood vibe. Come to Sligo Jazz, it's worth whatever it takes to get here.”
The 2024 edition welcomed 150 students from over 10 countries, including a vibrant youth academy of 50 young musicians aged 10-18, as well as a strong showing of adults, with around 40% aged 50+. The Summer School’s economic and cultural impact on Sligo continues to grow, contributing an estimated €500,000 to the local economy in 2024 alone. Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, and Ernie Watts have performed or taught at SJP over the years.
To mark the 20th anniversary, SJP 2025 presents its biggest ever faculty, all of whom will also perform at the concurrent Sligo Jazz Festival, lighting up venues including the Hawk’s Well Theatre and intimate spaces across the town.
At the heart of this milestone year is the Summer School, where a stellar faculty of 33 world-class musicians will mentor, inspire and perform for participants of all levels and backgrounds. With a daily schedule running from 10am to late night, this six-day immersive experience blends education, inspiration and pure entertainment and has earned SJP its reputation as Europe’s premier jazz education event.
What to Expect
- Summer School is a 6-day event featuring workshops, masterclasses and jam sessions with some of the world’s finest jazz educators and musicians.
- Sligo Jazz Festival acts include Rufus Reid (USA), Melissa Aldana (Chile), Sasha Berliner (USA), Freddie Hendrix (USA) and many more. Sligo Jazz Festival also features quality pub/hotel/cafe sessions with the best of Irish and international jazz acts, plus jam sessions featuring Summer School participants and tutors alike.
A previous participant, Noah Fishman, says: “You can have the faculty giving you masterclasses in the morning, eating lunch with you, going to their concerts, they play with you in the jam sessions, so it's really inclusive, and it's just a very feelgood vibe. Come to Sligo Jazz, it's worth whatever it takes to get here.”
The 2024 edition welcomed 150 students from over 10 countries, including a vibrant youth academy of 50 young musicians aged 10-18, as well as a strong showing of adults, with around 40% aged 50+. The Summer School’s economic and cultural impact on Sligo continues to grow, contributing an estimated €500,000 to the local economy in 2024 alone. Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, and Ernie Watts have performed or taught at SJP over the years.
To mark the 20th anniversary, SJP 2025 presents its biggest ever faculty, all of whom will also perform at the concurrent Sligo Jazz Festival, lighting up venues including the Hawk’s Well Theatre and intimate spaces across the town.
Highlights of the 2025 Artist Line-up for Summer School and Festival:
- Guest of Honour: Rufus Reid – the legendary American bassist, aged 82, whose early support helped put Sligo Jazz on the international map.
- Artist in Residence: Melissa Aldana – the acclaimed Chilean-Canadian saxophonist and composer.
- Young Artist in Residence: Matthew Halpin – Vienna-based Irish saxophonist, composer, and educator.
- Plus: US vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, drummer Kush Abadey, Australian-German trombonist Shannon Barnett, Dutch-Korean drummer/composer Sun-Mi Hong, Grammy-winning Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi, German pianist Pablo Held, UK’s finest Paul Clarvis, Gareth Lockrane, Tom Ollendorff, Ant Law, and many more.
- The Irish contingent features leading talent from North and South, including Michael Buckley, Paul Dunlea, Joseph Leighton, Mike Nielsen, Nils Kavanagh, Conor Murray, Michael Thomas Murray. Cathal Roche, Kieran Quinn, Scott Flanigan, Linley Hamilton, Stephen Davis.
- Top European vocalists, Emilia Martensson, Brigitte Beraha, and Veronika Anna Morscher are leading vocal workshops.
