Basin Street Regulars Scholarships at the Teagarden Jazz Camp

The Basin Street Regulars, Inc. By-Laws state:
“….the Corporation is organized and operated for:
a. Preserving and promoting traditional jazz.
b. Providing a common meeting ground where traditional jazz musicians can play their music to interested audiences.
c. Providing liaison between jazz musicians, jazz societies and the listening public.
d. Providing young musicians of high school and college age with the opportunity to play along with older and more experienced musicians.
e. Providing musical programs at education institutions as a means of creating interest in traditional jazz among the youth of the area.”

In order to help facilitate this section of the by laws, on June 24, 2025, I had an opportunity to travel to Pollack Pines and tour the camp, meet some scholarship recipients, camp counselors and camp directors. Students were placed in age and experience appropriate combos, had group lessons on their particular instrument or voice, improvisation exercises including music theory as well as a wide array of fun activities and comraderie.

What I witnessed were experienced instructors guiding these young campers through musical activities that led to musical growth. Personal bonds were made among these young musicians. Exposure to various composers, compositions, and techniques was offered that only an entity like Teagarden Jazz Camp and the Cuesta Jazz Workshop can offer.

We had a record number of applicants in 2025 and provided 19 students from 9 different schools with full scholarships. We are committed to offering scholarships to the Teagarden Jazz Camp or the Cuesta College Jazz Workshop again in 2026. We urge students, parents, teachers and musicians to encourage young musicians ages 12-25 to consider attending jazz camp in the Summer of 2026.