Open Call for The New Improvisers Studio with Patrick Shiroishi
Western Front and Coastal Jazz are pleased to present The New Improvisers Studio, a free educational opportunity for emerging musicians aged 17 to 24.
The New Improvisers Studio supports collaborative exploration in musical improvisation through daily workshops led by an invited guest artist appearing as part of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. This year’s mentor is Patrick Shiroishi, a Los Angeles-based Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist and composer whose practice spans solo work and collaborations with artists including Chelsea Wolfe, Algiers, Xiu Xiu, Dirty Projectors, Che Chen, and claire rousay.
Workshops will take place daily from June 30 — July 3, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Western Front. The week will conclude with a public performance on July 4, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).
Participants are required to bring their own instruments and arrange their own transportation. Secure onsite storage will be available for instruments throughout the workshop period. Lunch will be provided daily, and participants will receive a complimentary pass to the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
How to Participate
The New Improvisers Studio is open to musicians aged 17 to 24 from all musical backgrounds and experience levels.
To apply, please submit an expression of interest to info@westernfront.ca with the subject line “The New Improvisers Studio EOI” no later than May 23, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Applications may be submitted in writing, video, or audio format (maximum 500 words or 3 minutes in length). Applicants are also encouraged to include a short recording of themselves performing on their instrument.
Please address the following in your expression of interest:
What is your chosen instrument?
Describe your musical background and experience.
Why are you interested in exploring improvisation?
What is your ambition as a musician and how will this opportunity help you to achieve this?
The program can accommodate ten participants. Successful applicants will be notified by June 1, 2026.
About the Artist
Patrick Shiroishi is a Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Los Angeles who is perhaps best known for his extensive and incredibly intense work with the saxophone. Over the last decade he has established himself as one of the premier improvising musicians in Los Angeles, playing solo and in numerous collaborative projects. He has toured around the world in various solo and band configurations including The Armed, contemporary classical ensemble Wild Up, and Upsilon Acrux.
Accessibility
The workshops will take in the Grand Luxe Hall, which is located on the second floor of Western Front and is accessed by a flight of 26 stairs. Further details about accessibility at Western Front can be found here.
Acknowledgements
Presented in partnership by Coastal Jazz and Western Front, with the support of the Government of Canada and Deux Mille Foundation.
Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.
We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.