The Roy Hargrove Summer Jazz Camp is currently underway at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School of Innovation. Now in its second year, the program honors Roy Hargrove, a celebrated alumnus of the Dallas Independent School District. The camp provides students with training in improvisation and the history of jazz, an art form deeply rooted in the district.
Educators Kermit Gray and LeManuel Williams direct the camp. Gray, the band director at Roosevelt High School, stated that the curriculum covers swing elements, modes, and confidence in playing solos. He noted that the instruction prepares students for upcoming regional auditions. Gray emphasized that the camp provides tools for student success and allows him to continue the legacy at his alma mater.
The program was founded by Dean Hill, a legendary band director who retired after 47 years in education. Hill was one of the first teachers and mentors of Hargrove, who won Grammy Awards in 1998 and 2002. Williams, a band director at South Oak Cliff High School and professional trumpeter, also graduated from Dallas ISD. He highlighted that much of the music young people enjoy originates from jazz. Williams encouraged students to view music as a pathway to higher education, citing that 12 South Oak Cliff band students received over $1 million in music scholarships this year.
During a week in June, students learn standards and present a final performance. Williams described the opportunity to share this art form during the summer as a blessing. He stated that musicians are necessary and heard daily in various media. Gray remarked that jazz remains strong in Dallas ISD and urged students to trust the process of their musical practice.
