Here at SWJS Headquarters, we are still basking in the afterglow of our first successful camp. We tried to create the camp that so many have come to know and love, and we came close!

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Fun Fact: The Board is far-flung. Members live in Vancouver, the Kootenays, Salmon Arm, Alberta and Washington State. We’ve been gazing at each other regularly on Zoom for the past 18 months or so, and the first time we were all together was the first day of camp! Some of us met each other for the first time.

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Now we’re busy planning the 2027 camp. We will keep in touch with you regularly through this newsletter, to let you know the decisions that the Board has made, and the work we’re doing. As we progress toward registration for Swing West Jazz Camp ‘27, we will let you know of updates to the website, and SWJS developments. We will post links to our Facebook Group page and Instagram account to alert you to visit the website to get the latest news.

 

Thanks For Your Feedback

A big thanks to all who completed the Feedback Survey we sent to you shortly after camp ended! Your comments were positive, detailed and thoughtful, and will help guide us through the next months as we plan.

The Board has met a couple of times to debrief and set our agenda for the work to be done between now and next summer. And speaking of next summer.....

 

Swing West Jazz Camp 2027 is ON!

 

Our first order of business was to set the date for Swing West Jazz Camp 2027: July 18 – 24. We hoped to find an available date in June, to try and move out of the heat of summer and fire season. Unfortunately, Sorrento Centre is booked throughout June. Now, we will work through the many details that are vital running Camp smoothly. We will keep you updated!

 

Please Send Us Your Camp Photos

There are some new photos from camp to view on the Photo Gallery page. We hope to add more! Got any you’d like to share? Please send them to us at: info@swingwestjazzsociety.org

 

Some New Website Features

 

We have a new item on the website: "In The Spotlight", featuring interviews with our faculty members, to help you get to know them a bit better. We spend a fabulous week learning from them, hearing them play in different settings, and chatting. In The Spotlight will help you get to know them better and learn a bit about their history, musical development, hobbies etc. (but not what kind of tree they would like to be. Ever.)  

Many of our teachers have been at camp for more than two decades, and they have been part of the camp’s evolution since 2001. Our first interview is with Joe Vinikow and Julie Sakahara, who have been at every camp, and have played such important roles in the fun! Find out the name of Joe’s first band, how Band Lab got started, how camp has changed over the years. That and a lot more can be found here.

 

Tell Us Where Your Next Gig Is… And We’ll Publish It!

Another new feature, What’s Up? will be a place where you can find out where your fellow campers are performing. If you play in a band, perform at a coffeehouse or another public event, let us know in advance and we’ll post it on the website. Send the details (date, hours, performers, admission fee if applicable) to info@swingwestjazz society.org

 

Swing West Jazz Society Annual General Meeting

We are in the process of planning the Swing West Jazz Society Annual General Meeting. We’ll send you information in the next edition of the Swing West Jazz Newsletter, dropping into your inbox next month. If you have become a member of SWJS, you will be invited.

If you loved your experience at the 2026 camp, you make future camps possible by becoming a member. We rely on our members for support and your membership does make a difference! You can sign up to become a member here.

Until the next newsletter, don’t be flat, don’t be sharp… be natural!

 

Terry