Sitar Arts Center

Area Served

About Sitar Arts Center

We have seen budding musicians, like 15-year-old Michael Ventura, improve their musicianship to the point where serious study, and jazz in particular, is a regular part of their life. Michael’s mentorship by Herman Burney and Fred Foss helped him be accepted into elite summer music programs at Berklee College of Music for summer 2015 and receive a scholarship. Jazzin’ AfterSchool is led by Herman Burney, Associate Professor of bass and jazz combo director at The George Washington University. Burney is a seasoned jazz bassist and educator who has considerable experience working with young, aspiring jazz musicians. He has performed with many well-known jazz artists, including Nnenna Freelon, Marcus Roberts, Freddy Cole, Wynton Marsalis, and Eric Alexander, to name a few. In partnership with Sitar Arts Center, Jazzin’ AfterSchool provides year-round weekly instrument training and jazz history sessions for Sitar music students. Each semester, students enrolled in the course are joined by upwards of 80 other Sitar music students for a lively masterclass session focusing exclusively on jazz performance, history and appreciation. A core group of students perform in a culminating concert at Sitar Arts Center for their peers, teachers and families and in addition are featured each year in a special performance at the DC Jazz Festival’s Jazz 'N Family Fun Days event. Students 9+ are encouraged to apply. Must have at least one year of experience playing and instrument and have basic music reading skills.