NYC trumpeter Chloe Rowlands promotes equity in jazz at the Con

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is hosting internationally renowned trumpeter and music educator Chloe Rowlands as artist-in-residence from 31 August to 5 September 2024. During the residency, Rowlands will explore a wide range of improvisation skills with undergraduate and pre-tertiary students as part of the Conservatorium’s Equity in Jazz program.

“Jazz to me means freedom of expression,” Rowlands said. “It’s wonderful that the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has the Equity in Jazz program to encourage women and gender diverse musicians to train and start careers in jazz.”

Equity in Jazz is a trailblazing program for its positive action in gender diversity. 

“There’s mounting evidence to show that proactive ways of increasing gender diversity like the Equity in Jazz program have long-lasting effect, particularly for making role models visible and helping young women and gender diverse students network,” said Jess Green, program leader.

“What’s really exciting about Chloe, with her incredible leadership and artistry, travelling to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music from the mecca of jazz in New York City to work alongside students and play music with them, is seeing that international connection flourish and how this in turn gets students thinking long term about their future careers.”

The visit to Australia serves as an opportunity to celebrate Rowlands’ phenomenal musical skill and versatility across jazz, classical and folk genres, and her artistic and community leadership as a queer, transgender woman. 

“The jazz scene is starting to change,” Rowlands said. “I’m seeing so many incredibly talented young women jazz musicians in New York City who are absolutely crushing it, and more LGBTQ musicians are coming on the scene as well.”

Annabel Bates, Bachelor of Music (Jazz) student, said experiencing Rowlands’ masterclass on improvisation at the Con was significant for students.

“Having such an important female in the industry come and do a masterclass at the Con is so significant for equity in music and for us students as it gives us a model of what we can do,” she said. “Learning face-to-face from a renowned improviser also allowed us to feel like we could express ourselves freely through our music.”

Diversity in jazz music is important visibility for the next generation of women and gender diverse musicians, Rowlands said. “Pretty often, I’ll receive a message in my inbox from a young trans musician who told me that seeing me succeed in my career gave them the courage to be themselves. I feel like it’s my responsibility to be openly trans because of where I’m at in my career. I’m so happy I can be that role model for younger students – this is something I didn’t have growing up."

Rowlands will share her experience in the improvisation technique known as conduction through her week-long residency and will also work with brass students on repertoire she plays as a member of the critically acclaimed brass quartet, The Westerlies.

“Conduction is a form of conducted improvisation pioneered by Butch Morris, where one person stands in front of a group of musicians and uses hand signals to cue different musical parameters,” she said.

Using conduction in music education is a way to break down the barriers that may come with trying to improvise, such as not knowing what to play. 

“Conduction is all about reacting in the moment and not thinking about what you’re playing, making students aware that improvisation is more than a set of rules or playing a certain scale or a certain chord,” Rowlands said.

Rowlands will lead a free public performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on Thursday 5 September, where you can watch students perform music developed through the residency.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday 5 September 2024

Time: 6:30–8:30 pm

Venue: The Sydney Conservatorium, Music Workshop

Tickets: Register for free entry

The Equity in Jazz program is generously funded philanthropically by the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

A multi-talented musician, composer, arranger, and educator, Chloe Rowlands holds a faculty position at The New School College of Performing Arts in New York City. She has collaborated with an impressive array of artists such as Fleet Foxes and the ten-time GRAMMY-winning Manhattan Transfer, performed on some of the world's biggest stages including the Hollywood Bowl and Monterey Jazz Festival, and composed music for concert bands, jazz ensembles and film and television soundtracks.

Hero photo: Stefanie Zingsheim.