From October 4 to 6, three days of advanced training with two leading figures of the international jazz scene. Supported by Erasmus+ KA171, the project strengthens the ties between Siena Jazz and the United States.
On October 6 at 6:00 p.m., a free concert will take place at the Sala degli Specchi.
Siena Jazz opens the new academic year with an event of strong international significance, welcoming students and faculty with the presence of two leading figures of the American jazz scene: Frank Carlberg, pianist, composer and educator, and renowned saxophonist and composer Tim Berne.
Frank Carlberg
From October 4 to 6, the two musicians will be guests of Siena Jazz for an intensive programme of educational activities dedicated to students of the Siena-based institution. The initiative is made possible thanks to the support of the Erasmus+ Programme – KA171 Action, which promotes mobility and academic cooperation with institutions in countries outside the European Union.
Opening the academic year with two artists of this calibre underlines Siena Jazz’s commitment to creating opportunities for its students to meet and engage with leading figures in the international music scene. This choice takes on particular significance with the presence of Frank Carlberg, further strengthening Siena Jazz’s relationship with the United States and, in particular, with the academic community of Boston and New England, reinforcing an international partnership that represents one of the strategic pillars of the institution’s activities.
Carlberg’s presence is further evidence of Siena Jazz’s increasingly international outlook, fostering connections among educational institutions, musicians and students across European borders. In this context, the Erasmus+ KA171 programme becomes a concrete tool for turning international cooperation into a direct experience of education, artistic development and cultural exchange.
For Tim Berne, this marks a welcome return to Siena Jazz, following his previous experience as a guest of the institution. His presence gives students the opportunity to engage with one of the most original and distinctive voices in contemporary jazz through a programme focusing on music, composition, improvisation and the exploration of new musical languages.
Tim Berne
The three days, from October 4 to 6, will therefore represent a significant opportunity for education and exchange, as well as the first major event of the new academic year. The programme is designed to welcome the new community of students and faculty and to launch the new educational journey under the banner of international exchange.
At the conclusion of the activities, on Tuesday, October 6 at 6 p.m., Frank Carlberg and Tim Berne will perform in a free concert at the Sala degli Specchi, open to the public. The event will provide an opportunity to bring to the stage the experience and artistic exchange developed during the three-day programme, while celebrating through music the beginning of Siena Jazz’s 2026–2027 academic year.
Siena Jazz thus chooses to open the new academic year by looking increasingly beyond its borders, strengthening its international relationships and reaffirming its vocation as a place for education, research and exchange between musical cultures.
In this spirit of openness and international exchange, Siena Jazz also intends to highlight and present to the public the international dimension of its teaching staff, made up of leading musicians from the global jazz scene and representing different countries and musical traditions. Once again this year, these artists will work with students, offering high-level opportunities for advanced study and artistic development.
Alongside its regular academic programmes, Siena Jazz also offers specialised professional development courses, providing students with the opportunity to study with some of the leading figures in the world of jazz and further expand their opportunities for education and artistic exchange.
The faculty includes internationally renowned musicians such as Lage Lund, Greg Hutchinson, David Linx, Brad Jones, Alex Sipiagin, Yonathan Avishai, Demian Cabaud and Gustav Bromann, reflecting the richness and diversity of the musical experiences that characterise Siena Jazz’s educational programme.
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