“Utah Hamrick, director of jazz ensembles and instructor of jazz bass at Texas State University, spent a week in Chile this August working with students at the Projazz Institute in Santiago. The Projazz Institute had its beginnings in 1982 as the Academy of Music Projazz. The project grew in 1985 with the addition of renowned voice teacher Ana Maria Meza and saxophonist Patrick Ramirez. The program was renamed in 1999 as the Projazz International Music School creating the first jazz studies program in Chile and renamed again in 2007 becoming the Professional Projazz Institute offering the first professional level jazz studies approved by the Chile Ministry of Education. Projazz remains at the forefront in the training of professional artists.
Hamrick directed their big band in two concerts, one in Santiago and one in Rancagua. Hamrick also gave a jazz bass master class and performed two concerts with Texas State colleagues Russell Haight and Hank Hemsoth.” [from the TJEA newsletter]