Each summer, the Siena Jazz School transforms the historic Tuscan city into a vibrant hub of contemporary jazz through its International Summer Workshop—an intensive program of masterclasses and workshops designed for students from around the world.
For its 55th edition, held from July 26 to August 7, 2025, the festival once again welcomed a stellar lineup of artists, including Melissa Aldana, Walter Smith III, Aaron Parks, and many others.
The International Summer Workshop is the flagship event of the Siena Jazz Academy, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in jazz studies. True to its mission of delivering top-tier jazz education, the Academy has embraced an international outlook, inviting world-class musicians to join its faculty. Among its current professors are acclaimed artists such as Jeff Ballard and Greg Hutchinson. Since 2014, the Academy has also benefited from the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, which promotes mobility for both students and educators.
Several initiatives aim to spotlight global jazz culture, including JazzAble and Peter Pan, a youth improvisation orchestra. But the heart of the summer lies in the workshops themselves. This year, 91 students—half of them international, representing 16 different countries—had the opportunity to learn directly from some of the most influential figures in contemporary jazz. In the evenings, these same artists took to the stage for the Siena Jazz Masters concert series, putting into practice the lessons shared during the day.
This dual role—artist and educator—is what sets the Siena Jazz International Summer Workshop apart. Every performer gracing the city’s most iconic venues is also a teacher. As American trumpeter Marquis Hill reminded the audience during his August 3 performance: “It is great to be in Siena, surrounded by jazz fans and all of these amazing artists and pedagogues.”
The musical brilliance of these world-class performers is only heightened by the majestic backdrop of Siena. Marquis Hill, joined by Lage Lund on guitar, Gabriele Evangelista on double bass, and JK Kim on drums, filled the summit of the Fortezza Medicea with the sound of his trumpet, echoing across from the towering silhouette of Siena’s cathedral.
On August 2, the Piazza di Provenzano in the heart of the old town hosted a multigenerational duo: Norma Winstone and Kit Downes, presenting their 2024 ECM release Outpost of Dreams. The setting was mystical, the mood dreamlike. Against the marble façade of Santa Maria di Provenzano, Winstone’s slender figure stood out, her colorful dress fluttering in the summer breeze. With over 50 years of career, 30 albums, and collaborations with jazz legends like Lee Konitz, Fred Hersch, and Kenny Wheeler, the vocalist and lyricist captivated the audience with her haunting voice and poetic lyrics.
The concert opened with Beneath an Evening Sky, a composition by Ralph Townes and Norma Winstone. Kit Downes’ textured interpretation provided the perfect canvas for Winstone’s warm, mysterious voice: “There’s a Far Distant Cry / From the Depths of the Sky / Darkened Hallways, perfumed gardens.” Embracing a near-symbolist style, the piece set the tone for the album’s enigmatic atmosphere. The duo returned for an encore, warmly requested by the audience, who remained entranced despite the evening chill. Their final piece, a refreshed take on the standard I Fall in Love Too Easily, offered one last moment of improvisational intimacy.
Thanks to the dedication of the Siena Jazz faculty, Tuscany continues to nurture a dynamic pool of talented musicians—artists we’ll soon see on international stages, and perhaps, back in Siena, leading future summer masterclasses.
© Photos Jean-Baptiste Costa-Ludwig
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