Big Announcement! The Shape of Jazz to Come 2025 Is Shaping Our Future!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2025 The Shape of Jazz to Come celebration and fundraiser. Your energy and generosity made a real impact!

As many of you know, we’ve hit classroom capacity again for the 2025–26 season and had to put students on the waitlist, but thanks to the incredible support of our community, we raised enough funding to open a new classroom in 2026.

Space is difficult to find in Liberty Station, but a room near our current classrooms just became available, and we were able to secure it. Preparation has already begun and we’re aiming to have the new classroom ready by March 1, 2026. This expansion will allow us to welcome students who are on the waitlist, offer more room for private instruction and masterclasses, as well as launch new programs to keep jazz education alive and thriving in San Diego!

In addition, we’ll also be doing necessary upgrades to our current two rooms this December. As a result, all classrooms will be closed over winter break so we can complete these improvements as efficiently as possible, and we appreciate your patience during this time.

Your support keeps our mission moving forward and helps realize Gilbert Castellanos’ vision of making high-quality jazz education accessible to young musicians across San Diego.

With gratitude,

YLJC TEAM