Experience Jazz
Artistic Director
Dawn Clement
Dawn Clement is a joyful and formidable force in the landscape of modern creative music. For over two decades, Clement has served as both a torchbearer of the jazz tradition and a trailblazer in fresh sonic explorations. “In all this world of jazz, there are very few individual voices, no matter what the instrument, but Dawn has come up with a voice that’s unique…” says legendary jazz trombonist Julian Priester.
Clement’s original music is an expansive collection that features her distinctive musical voice across genres, styles, and settings. Her six albums as a leader showcase her impressive range—from master of the jazz piano trio to avant-garde improviser to expressive songwriter and vocalist who effortlessly bridges jazz, indie, and alternative sounds. DownBeat writes, “The revelation is Dawn Clement’s piano, always ready with the lyricism or structure the moment needs.”
As a collaborator, Clement shines. She has performed with jazz luminaries including Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Miles, René Marie, and Julian Priester, and recorded with säje on their GRAMMYnominated debut album, touring internationally with the ensemble.
Clement has been busy recording of late with several exciting projects including: a self-released trio project with guitarist Steve Kovalcheck and bassist Jon Hamar (September, '24), and Sound & Fury, Esthesis Quartet’s latest release, featuring Guitarist Bill Frisell (May ’25, *Sunnyside records), and her most recent release, Delight with legendary bassist Buster Williams and drummer Matt Wilson (May ’25, Origin records).
Delight is a “legacy trio” project recorded at the storied Maggie’s Farm in Pennsylvania. Born from both serendipity and intention, Delight captures a spirit of connection, lineage, and joy, its title taken from Buster’s closing words of the session: “Matthew, this has been a delight."
Clement also continues to expand her compositional and collaborative world with tribute to the music of Blossom Dearie, featuring Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, and Steve Kovalcheck. This is an evocative new project that explores renewal, presence, and the art of transformation and will make it’s appearance Spring of 2026.
In addition to her performing and recording career, Clement is a dedicated educator and mentor. She serves as Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of Jazz and American Improvised Music at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and is a sought-after guest artist and clinician for festivals and workshops across the country. In 2025, she was appointed Artistic Director of Centrum’s Jazz Port Townsend Workshop and Festival, succeeding the legendary John Clayton.
Clement holds a Bachelor of Music from Cornish College of the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition from Vermont College of the Arts. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now makes her home in Denver, Colorado, while maintaining strong ties to both the Seattle and Denver music communities. She continues to balance the ever-evolving dance of teaching, composing, performing, and parenting—remaining, above all, a devoted student of sound, spirit, and connection.
Artist Faculty
 2026 Artist Faculty
Workshop
Participants with a wide range of abilities and experience attend Jazz Port Townsend each year. We have ensembles and classes to fit seasoned professionals, beginning improvisers, and everyone in between. Please note that even the beginning classes are designed for people who already have a fair degree of skill with their instrument or voice. If you are a high school student (or older) that has been playing jazz from 5th or 6th grade, you will fit in just fine.  Full-time dorm counselors are on duty all week for participants under 18, and dorms are assigned according to age and gender.
Throughout the week of the workshop, every participant will be coached with either the instrumental combo they are placed in, or with the vocal faculty and provided rhythm trios. Combo placements will be emailed to participants by Monday July 20.
Also featured, Tuesday through Friday, are master classes for each instrumental group and vocalists. All the faculty members for each category of instruments will meet for specific teaching of their instrument.
Special Topics classes, presented by faculty members, will feature subjects that are of special interest or expertise to them.
Performances, Thursday through Saturday, are scheduled for all instrumentalists with their combo, and for vocalists at their showcase concert. The performance schedule will be in the workshop booklet provided at check-in.
Other activities include several hosted jam sessions, and a Reading Big Band that will perform on Friday. A notice will be sent for those interested in applying for the Reading Band.
The four-day Jazz Port Townsend Festival will top things off grandly with faculty performances in both Club settings on campus Wednesday and Thursday, and Mainstage shows in the McCurdy Pavilion Friday and Saturday.Â
For more information, contact Program Manager Gwen Franz: gfranz@centrum.org, (360) 385-3102 x109
Schedule
2026 Schedule
Monday 4:00-11:00 PMÂ
Check in, rental instrument checkout, live auditions, mandatory meeting for under 18-year-olds, Welcome and Orientation meeting, jamming.Â
Tuesday through Thursday 8:00 AM-11:00 PMÂ
Breakfast, combo and vocal coaching, music theory and Special Topic classes.Â
Lunch, Master Classes (per instrument), combo and vocal coaching, Faculty Presents concerts.Â
Dinner, Reading Big Band and/or jamming, Wednesday and Thursday Jazz in the Clubs.Â
Friday 8:00 AM-11:00 PMÂ
Breakfast, combo and vocal coaching, music theory and Special Topics classes.Â
Lunch, vocal and combo performances, Special Topics.Â
Dinner, Mainstage concert.Â
Saturday 8:00 AM-11:00 PMÂ
Breakfast, Special Topics, combo performances.Â
Lunch, Mainstage concert. Â
Dinner, combo performances, Mainstage concert.Â
Sunday 8:00-11:00 AMÂ
Breakfast, final rental instrument return, 9:00 AM SeaTac shuttle departs, checkout.Â
Audition
This year, the deadline for auditions is May 25, 2026. Acceptance emails will be sent after May 27. If there are still spaces left in any instrument/vocal category, the audition deadline could be extended. Note that piano and drum categories always fill up so be sure to get your audition in before the deadline. Submitting your audition does not guarantee your acceptance into the workshop. Your registration deposit will be fully refunded if you are not accepted. Â
To submit your audition, first register for the workshop. You will receive within a week an email with instructions on how to submit your audition materials through the Submittable application. Â
Audition Packets
This link will take you to a folder where you will find all the audition requirements for Instrumental and Vocal auditions. For reference, concert charts can be found here, as well as “Musical Examples” of scales and arpeggios. Optional charts for advanced placement can be found here.
Video recordings are encouraged. Audition recordings need to be in MP3 format. If you don’t have a digital recorder or an app such as Audacity on your phone that can make MP3 recordings, Zamzar.com (or pdfhouse.com) is a website that can easily translate your files into MP3’s for free.Â
Costs
Centrum has a variety of ways to be able to attend our workshops even if you’re on a budget. Consider applying for a scholarship or a work-trade opportunity as you register. John Clayton’s Transcription Project is another way to reduce your tuition costs.
Tuition: $995Â
Dorm: $440
Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner: $420
Meals: lunch/dinner: $320
Deposit:Â $300Â
Our new food service provider is locally based Planted. Planted offers nourishing plant-based meals and ingredients that are locally sourced from the Olympic Peninsula. For more info on Planted, visit https://www.plantedporttownsend.com/.
The deadline for scholarship and work trade applications is May 11, 2026. Applications received after that date will be considered on a rolling basis if space and funds remain.Â
The last day to modify registration, such as cancelling housing, etc., is June 2, 2026. Â
The paid-in-full deadline is June 2, 2026.Â
Cancellation/Refund Policy
A $300 deposit ($50 for scholarship applicants) is required to register. This deposit is non-refundable, with two exceptions: 1) You've applied for financial aid and are unable to attend because we cannot award your full request, or 2) your audition is not accepted, in which case you will receive a full refund. No refunds of any kind are available after June 2, 2026.Â
Transcription Challenge
Ends on Mon, May 4, 2026, 11:59 PM
From Dawn Clement, Artistic Director:
Dear 2026 Centrum Jazz Participants,Â
I’m thrilled and honored to continue the transcription challenge that John Clayton created. This tradition has been central to Jazz Port Townsend, and I’m delighted to offer an opportunity that will not only prepare you for an unforgettable week but also reward your hard work in a meaningful way.
Centrum is giving up to ten participants a chance to earn scholarships for transcribing some jazz!Â
Here's how it works:Â
- Transcribe 5 pieces from this list, and you'll receive a $200 tuition scholarship.Â
- Complete 3 more, and you'll earn an additional $125.Â
- That's a guaranteed $325 in scholarship funds simply by engaging in one of the most invaluable exercises a musician can undertake—internalizing great solos!
And there’s more! If you transcribe 8 songs, you'll automatically be entered into a lottery for a full scholarship, which means you could join us without paying a penny in tuition.
I’m thrilled and honored to continue the transcription challenge that John Clayton created. This tradition has been central to Jazz Port Townsend, and I’m delighted to offer an opportunity that will not only prepare you for an unforgettable week but also reward your hard work in a meaningful way.
Centrum is giving up to ten participants a chance to earn scholarships for transcribing some jazz!Â
INSTRUMENTS
Instruments
Pianos: Centrum provides high quality digital or acoustic pianos in every rehearsal room and performance venue. All other instrumentalists will need to bring their own or rent whatever they need to make music, including amps, cymbals, and music stands.Â
Basses: can be rented at Kennelly Keys Music and will be delivered to Centrum. Contact David Mercado at 425-771-7020 or dm@kennellykeysmusic.com for details.Â
Drums: Centrum has several drum sets available for rent for $150. You can request one of these when you apply online. Or, Kennelly Keys Music has drum sets for rent that will be delivered to Centrum. See above contact information above for David Mercado. Â
Crossroads Music in Port Townsend also has rentals. A few drum sets, one set of cymbals, acoustic jazz guitars, guitar and bass amps are available, and they also deliver to Centrum. Contact Crossroads Music at 360-385-1471 or info@crossroads-music.com for details.
FAQ
Scholarships
If the full tuition price is a significant financial challenge for you, please select the scholarship/work-trade option when you register. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served, and as-needed basis. Please note that except in rare cases, scholarships are applied to tuition only. Centrum requires a $50 deposit for scholarship applications. Consider earning money off your tuition with the John Clayton Transcription Challenge! See tab in menu for more information.
Room & Board
Check in for the dorms is at 4:00 PM Monday, July 20. Check out is at 11:00 AM Sunday, July 26. Meals are served at Fort Worden Commons. The first meal is dinner on Monday, July 20; the last meal is breakfast on Sunday July 26.Â
Transportation to and from Port Townsend
You have an option when you register on Cvent to select either a one-way or round-trip shuttle service to/from Port Townsend/SeaTac airport. The fee is $65 one-way and $130 round-trip. The shuttle will leave SeaTac by 2pm on Monday, July 20, and 9am from Port Townsend on Sunday, July 26. The travel time from SeaTac to Port Townsend is a good two hours so please keep that in mind when scheduling flights. The last date to book or change shuttle reservations is June 15.
The Rocket is a local airport shuttle service that you can book independently if that works better for your travel needs. Please note that Centrum is not responsible for transportation booked on the Rocket, and we cannot make those reservations for you. Please visit their website for more information.
Performances
Admission to all performances is included in workshop registration. Performance details will be shared in March 2027.
Past Artist Faculty
