2026 Boysie Lowrey Living Jazz Residency Brings the Next Generation of Jazz Artists to Wilmington
Post Date:07/10/2026 9:52 AMWILMINGTON - Cityfest is proud to announce the 2026 cohort of the 10th annual Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency, an immersive two-week educational program that brings some of the nation's most promising emerging jazz musicians and composers to Wilmington from July 26 through August 9.
“When we created the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency a decade ago, the vision was inspired by my partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center's Jazz Ahead program and a belief that Wilmington could become a place where emerging jazz artists would come to learn, collaborate, and grow,” said Tina Betz, Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. “Today, the residency has developed its own identity, honoring the extraordinary legacy of Boysie Lowery and Clifford Brown while helping launch the next generation of jazz artists. Watching that vision flourish has been one of the great privileges of my career.”
Directed by acclaimed drummer, percussionist, composer, and educator Jonathan Whitney, the residency serves as the educational cornerstone of the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Designed for exceptional jazz artists ages 18 to 25, the program combines intensive instruction in performance, composition, arranging, improvisation, and professional career development while fostering artistic collaboration and lifelong professional relationships.
“Every year I look forward to watching these remarkable young artists challenge one another, build lasting friendships, and discover new possibilities in their music,” said Jonathan Whitney, drummer, percussionist, composer, educator, and director of the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency. “Those moments of artistic growth, both on and off the stage, are what make this residency so special.”
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency has become one of the Mid-Atlantic's premier summer training programs for emerging jazz artists, reflecting Wilmington's longstanding commitment to jazz education and the enduring legacy of Boysie Lowery and Clifford Brown.
Following a highly competitive audition process, fifteen outstanding young musicians from across the United States have been selected for this year's residency.
Throughout the residency, participants will study with internationally recognized artists including Terri Lyne Carrington, Warren Wolf, and Jonathan Scales, while working alongside faculty members Mike Boone, Tom Palmer, and E. Shawn Qaissuanee.
In addition to rehearsals, workshops, composing sessions, and cultural experiences throughout Wilmington, the residency includes a series of master classes led by internationally acclaimed guest artists. Members of the public are invited to observe selected master classes, offering a rare behind-the-scenes opportunity to experience world-class jazz artists teaching, mentoring, and sharing their creative process with the next generation of musicians.
The residency culminates with the young artists opening the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival's main stage on Wednesday, August 5; Thursday, August 6; and Friday, August 7, at 5:15 p.m. in Rodney Square. Each performance will feature original compositions created during the residency, showcasing the creativity, artistry, and collaborative spirit developed throughout the two-week program.
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About Robert “Boysie” Lowrey
The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency honors the legacy of the late Robert 'Boysie' Lowery, one of Delaware's most influential jazz educators. After moving to Wilmington in the 1940s, Lowery devoted more than five decades to mentoring generations of aspiring musicians. His most celebrated student was legendary trumpeter Clifford Brown, who began studying with Lowery at age 12 while attending Wilmington Public Schools. Lowery's students included Lem Winchester, Ernie Watts, Abdu-Rashid Yahya, Marcus Belgrave, Gerald Chavis, Valery Ponomarev, and Hugh Masekela. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to jazz education, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation honored Lowery with its 1995 Living Legacy Award.Return to full list >>
