California

Monterey Jazz Festival

Program No. 4628RJ
Join all the cool cats at the Monterey Jazz Festival where you’ll hear world-class performances, engaging lectures and panel discussions in the historic setting of beautiful Monterey.

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At a Glance

Savor the offerings of the internationally famous Monterey Jazz Festival under the tutelage of a special musician and teacher who provides an inside view of the American jazz scene. Beginning in 1957, “Monterey” is the granddaddy of American jazz festivals and features the finest of world class-performers. Experience all five Main Arena concerts as well as the festival’s magnificent oak-studded grounds featuring films, conversations with the Festival’s stars, exhibitions and over 500 artists performing throughout 8 stages.
Activity Level
Easy Going
Walking a minimum of 200 yards at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Flat terrain, ground-level buildings; stairs may be avoided.

What You'll Learn

  • In sessions with a professional jazz musician, prepare for each performance with presentations about music and musicians and gain insider knowledge about the American jazz scene.
  • Experience all the Monterey Jazz Festival has to offer with access to all five Main Arena concerts, as well all stages and activities on the festival grounds.
  • Enjoy the beauty of oak-studded Carmel Valley with lodgings at a history country inn, dating back to the 1800s’ Spanish Rancheros.

General Notes

Transportation to all events included. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Ali Ryerson
Ali Ryerson is consistently voted among the top jazz flutists in the Downbeat Jazz Poll, was a Jazz Flutist of the Year nominee by the Jazz Journalists Association, and has released 20 highly acclaimed jazz albums on major labels. Ali performs, records and teaches internationally, with performances ranging from the Monterey Jazz Festival to Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. She has worked with jazz greats such as Kenny Barron and Joe Beck, and classical artists such as Luciano Pavarotti.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Ali Ryerson
Ali Ryerson View biography
Ali Ryerson is consistently voted among the top jazz flutists in the Downbeat Jazz Poll, was a Jazz Flutist of the Year nominee by the Jazz Journalists Association, and has released 20 highly acclaimed jazz albums on major labels. Ali performs, records and teaches internationally, with performances ranging from the Monterey Jazz Festival to Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. She has worked with jazz greats such as Kenny Barron and Joe Beck, and classical artists such as Luciano Pavarotti.
Profile Image of Peter T. Meckel
Peter T. Meckel View biography
Peter Meckel is the founder and General Director of Hidden Valley Music Seminars. Born and raised in the Midwest, he attended university at Rockford University in Illinois, and Occidental College in California. His leadership of Hidden Valley has resulted in one of the most respected opera training centers in America and a major contributor of arts education programs for vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. Students from throughout the world come to study with master teachers from many of America’s most prestigious orchestras and opera companies.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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5 days
4 nights
9 meals
4 B 3 L 2 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Carmel Valley, CA
D
Los Laureles Lodge

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. Register at the front desk of Los Laureles Lodge to get your room assignments and welcome packet with any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. Please let us know if you will be arriving late. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Reception: 5:00 p.m. In the Lodge’s Saloon, we will meet fellow Road Scholars and have cheese and crackers; beverages from the bar available for purchase.

Dinner: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Evening: Orientation. In the Terrace Garden Room, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All of our meals and classes will take place in the Terrace Garden Room overlooking the Lodge’s pool and scenic gardens. Our class instructor and Group Leader, Ali Ryerson — jazz flutist, teacher, international performing artist, and a frequent performing guest at the festival — will provide a brief overview of the festival, the longest running jazz festival in the world, first presented in 1958. Our tickets are for the same reserved seats in the Arena for all shows on the Jimmy Lyons Stage over the Festival weekend, and allows access to the other Grounds Stages. The Monterey Jazz Festival also features an international array of food, drink, and festivities. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Jazz History-Repertoire Class, Attend Monterey Jazz Festival
Carmel Valley, CA
B,L,D
Los Laureles Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking a minimum of 200 yards to Main Arena, other walking according to personal preference to stages spread across 20 acres; mostly even pathways and grounds. Listening devices available at no charge at Patron Services inside the Fairgrounds.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Morning: We’ll attend a Jazz History-Repertoire class led by our jazz teacher/performer who will discuss the festival performers and their repertoire. The first Monterey Jazz Festival in September 1958 featured jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, John Lewis, Shelly Manne, Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Ernestine Anderson, Harry James, Max Roach, and Billie Holiday.

Lunch: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Afternoon: In our next Jazz History-Repertoire class, we’ll learn more about the festival performers and their repertoire. Each year the Monterey Jazz Festival brings together hundreds of performing artists from all over the world. The Festival weekend features many performances across multiple stages. These artists cover a diverse and vibrant range of musical styles and influences, making the Monterey Jazz Festival a role model in the performing arts, reaching heights that founder Jimmy Lyons imagined it could ever be.

Dinner: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Evening: We will travel by bus to the Monterey County Fairgrounds and attend the 67th Monterey Jazz Festival. Bus drop-off will be on Garden Road by the Gate 3 ticket entrance. Our tickets permit us to explore the entire festival and attend the performances we choose in the Arena and other stages spread across 20 acres of oak-studded grounds. The Arena has backed reserved seats to relax and enjoy the performances. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not confirmed. When available, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Learn more at http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org. The bus will return to the lodge after the last scheduled concert ends. For those who wish to return to the lodge earlier, there will be an early bus each night approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before the last scheduled concert ends.

DAY
3
Jazz History-Repertoire Class, Attend Monterey Jazz Festival
Carmel Valley, CA
B,L
Los Laureles Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking a minimum of 200 yards to Main Arena, other walking according to personal preference to stages spread across 20 acres; mostly even pathways and grounds.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Morning: In our next Jazz History-Repertoire class, we’ll learn more about the festival performers and their repertoire. Main Arena performances pay tribute to the rich history of jazz and the festival, while also expanding and challenging the scope and breadth of jazz, blues, and rock, looking towards the future of jazz.

Lunch: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Afternoon: We’ll enjoy more of the 67th Monterey Jazz Festival. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not confirmed. When available, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Learn more at http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Monterey Jazz Festival hosts a number of diverse food and beverage vendors.

Evening: More of the Jazz Festival. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not confirmed. When available, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Learn more at http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org. The bus will return to the lodge after the last scheduled concert ends. For those who wish to return to the lodge earlier, there will be an early bus each night approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before the last scheduled concert ends.

DAY
4
Jazz History-Repertoire Class, Attend Monterey Jazz Festival
Carmel Valley, CA
B,L
Los Laureles Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking a minimum of 200 yards to Main Arena, other walking according to personal preference to stages spread across 20 acres; mostly even pathways and grounds.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Morning: In our next Jazz History-Repertoire class, we’ll learn more about the festival performers and their repertoire. The not-for-profit Monterey Jazz Festival has been committed to music education since its inception, currently investing more than $600,000 annually in jazz education. The festival runs a number of educational programs including the “Next Generation Jazz Orchestra” that selects top high school musicians from around the county to celebrate the future of jazz in musical tours and a performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Lunch: In the Terrace Garden Room.

Afternoon: We’ll attend the Jazz Festival and enjoy more great music. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not confirmed. When available, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Learn more at http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Monterey Jazz Festival hosts a number of diverse food and beverage vendors.

Evening: Enjoy the final performances at the Jazz Festival. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not confirmed. When available, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Learn more at http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org. The bus will return to the lodge after the last scheduled concert ends. For those who wish to return to the lodge earlier, there will be an early bus each night approximately 1 to 1.5 hours before the last scheduled concert ends. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
5
Program Concludes
Carmel Valley, CA
B

Activity note: Lodge check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: In the Terrace Garden Room. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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