Jazzcampus

✨Jubiläumsfest: 40 Years of Jazz Education in Basel✨
From 19 to 22 November 2026, we’re celebrating 40 years of jazz education in Basel at the Jazzcampus and the remarkable journey from the first private initiative through adventurous entrepreneurship, associations and festivals that brought people together, to becoming part of the music school of the Basel Academy of Music and the founding of the Institut Jazz at the Basel Academy of Music FHNW.

Over four days, the festival will feature more than 20 concerts, a variety of interactive activities, an afterparty, and a range of food and drink. Students of all ages, faculty, alumni, and longtime friends and supporters will come together for the anniversary festival and bring four decades of jazz education to life on stage.

The full program and further details will follow soon.

Save the Date: November 19–22, 2026

Last Sunday at FESTIVAL LABEL SUISSE in Lausanne, Lisette Spinnler presented “Encounter in Motion” with students from the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne (HEMU) and the Institut Jazz at the Hochschule für Musik Basel (FHNW). Together, they performed her compositions and arrangements.

The ensemble included our students Holly Forster (saxophone), Isaak Peyer (guitar), Leon Frei (bass) and Dominik Läuchli (drums). Thank you to Lisette and everyone involved in this collaboration!

📸Photo credit FESTIVAL LABEL SUISSE & Thea Moser | Photo & Vidéo

We’re thrilled to welcome drummer, composer, and producer Savannah Harris to the Institut Jazz at the Basel Academy of Music FHNW as our new Professor of Drums and Ensembles from fall 2026.

Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, Savannah combines it with influences from a variety of musical traditions. Her openness, versatility and collaborative spirit shape her distinctive artistic voice and approach to music.

Welcome to the Institut Jazz and Jazzcampus Basel!

We’re thrilled to welcome drummer, composer, and bandleader Kendrick Scott to the Institut Jazz at the Basel Academy of Music FHNW as our new Professor of Drums and Ensembles from fall 2026.

Kendrick approaches the drums as a compositional instrument, bringing melody, dynamics, form, and groove into dialogue. Openness, sensitivity, and a strong sense of community are central to his artistic practice.

Welcome to the Institut Jazz and Jazzcampus Basel!

Photo by Justin Bettman

We’re hiring!

The Institut Jazz at the Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW is looking for a Lecturer in Jazz Saxophone and Saxophone Pedagogy (5–25%).

We are seeking an internationally recognised artist and experienced educator with a distinctive artistic profile, excellent teaching skills and a strong knowledge of both jazz traditions and contemporary developments. The role includes teaching saxophone to Bachelor’s and Master’s students, as well as preparing future music teachers for their work in music schools and other educational settings.

If you know anyone who could fit this profile and would love to join our team, please share!

For more information and to apply, follow the link in our bio. The deadline to apply is 31 October 2026.