ABOUT MICHAEL
ABOUT MICHAEL
MUSIC
MUSIC
MUSIC
A 16-Week Program for Creative Musical Expression and Industry Navigation
The Modern Artist Combo Class brings together talented young artists across SoCal, ages 14-18, to learn more about improvisation, composition, performance, and entrepreneurship.
Modeled after the 5-day Summer intensive, this combo class is perfect for students looking for an extended program where they can dive even deeper into their skills development and gain invaluable experience collaborating with a group.
MISSION
INSTRUCTION
DETAILS
The Modern Artist aims to solidify music fundamentals, improve original musical expression, and discover creative ways to navigate the music industry.
The Modern Artist is led by pianist Michael Ragonese and saxophonist Alex Hahn. Learn more about our artist instructors below.
When: Feb 1st - May 9th, 2026
Deadline to Apply: Jan 25th, 2026
LISTEN + LEARN + APPLY
The Modern Artist Music Pedagogy
The Modern Musician implements a balanced approach to music pedagogy, providing classroom learning, one-on-one instruction, collaboration, live performance experience, and competition participation. Students will gain valuable experience transferring what they learn in class to the stage with confidence.
COURSES OFFERED
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Jazz Improvisation
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Jazz History/Listening
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Jazz Theory/Harmony
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Composition
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Music Technology
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Music Professionalism/Entrepreneurship
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Small Group Rehearsals
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Jazz festival performances
Logistics
TUITION & FEES
$1092
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SCHEDULES
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Pacific 04 (Band 1)
Sunday, Feb 1st : 1:15pm rehearsal
Sunday, Feb 8th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Sunday, Feb 15th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Saturday, Feb 21st : Western States Jazz Festival (timeTBD)
Sunday, March 8th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Sunday, March 15th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Saturday, March 21st : Irvine Jazz Festival (time TBD)
Sunday, March 29th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Sunday, April 5th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Sunday, April 12th : 1:15pm MASTERCLASS
Sunday, April 19th : 1:15pm rehearsal
Friday, April 24th : CONCERT (time/location TBD)
Sunday, May 3rd : 1:15pm rehearsal
Saturday, May 9th : Westlake Jazz Festival (time TBD)
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Hahn Solo (Band 2)
Tuesday, Feb 3rd : 6pm rehearsal
Tuesday, Feb 10th : 6pm rehearsal
Tuesday, Feb 17th : 6pm rehearsal
Saturday, Feb 21st : Western States Jazz Festival (timeTBD)
Tuesday, March 10th : 6pm rehearsal
Tuesday, March 17th : 6pm rehearsal
Saturday, March 21st : Irvine Jazz Festival (time TBD)
Tuesday, March 31st : 6pm rehearsal
Tuesday, April 7th : 6pm rehearsal
Sunday, April 12th : 1:15pm MASTERCLASS
Sunday, April 21st : 6pm rehearsal
Friday, April 24th : CONCERT (time/location TBD)
Tuesday, May 5th : 6pm rehearsal
Saturday, May 9th : Westlake Jazz Festival (time TBD)
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LOCATION
Classes @ Burbank Music Academy and TBD
Final Performance: TBD
*Address will be provided via email to registered students.
Learn & Create in a Professional Music Studio
Participants in the 16-week Modern Artist Combo Class will have the opportunity to rehearse in a professional studio space and record the pieces they have been working on together.
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By immersing themselves in the recording process, students will gain valuable insights into studio techniques, production nuances, and the intricacies of bringing their musical creations to life. This real-world exposure not only enhances their technical skills but also prepares them for the dynamic and competitive landscape of the music industry.
Jazz Festivals (NEW)
As part of the Modern Artist Combo Program, students will have the opportunity to participate in major regional and national jazz festivals as an outside ensemble. These festivals provide a real-world performance environment where students can present their music on professional stages, receive adjudication and feedback from respected jazz artists and educators, and engage with peers from top programs around the country.
Through festival preparation and performance, students develop essential skills in ensemble playing, professionalism, time management, and stage presence. Participating in festivals also exposes students to the broader jazz community, helping them understand what it means to perform at a high level while representing themselves and the program with confidence. This experience is a key step in bridging the gap between classroom study and the professional jazz world.
Meet the Instructors
MICHAEL RAGONESE | PIANO
Los Angeles-based jazz pianist and composer Michael Ragonese has become one of the most in-demand voices of his generation, performing, touring, and recording with icons such as Barbra Streisand, Walter Smith III, Ben Wendel, Mark Turner, Dayna Stephens, Charnett Moffett, Bennie Maupin, Dave Binney, and Engelbert Humperdinck. With three acclaimed albums—Day to Day (2019) and Stracci (2023)—Ragonese has established a distinct sound rooted in jazz, classical, and his Italian heritage.
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His recent third album, Chasing Calm, released in October 2025, reunites his powerhouse quartet featuring Walter Smith III, Luca Alemanno, and JK Kim. In support of the release, Ragonese has embarked on a full U.S. tour throughout 2025, with a European tour planned for early 2026. A regular at top jazz clubs nationwide and a featured clinician at universities, Ragonese continues to expand his voice and presence in the modern jazz landscape.
ALEX HAHN | SAXOPHONE
Alumni of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance and 1st Place Winner in the Michael Brecker International Saxophone Competition, Alex Hahn is a Grammy Award Winning saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Southern California. Hahn has performed and recorded with notable names such as Herbie Hancock, Billy Childs, John Clayton, Peter Erskine, and has recorded on Michael Bublé’s last three Grammy Nominated Albums including “Higher,” which won a Grammy Award in 2023. Hahn’s most recent album, ‘Childhood Melodies,” released in 2024, has received over one million streams across all platforms.
Hahn currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and is the Co-Founder of the Modern Artist Summer Jazz Intensive. He is an endorsed artist with Eastman Winds, D’Addario Woodwinds, JJ Babbitt, and Key Leaves.
