The acclaimed Edinburgh Napier University Jazz Summer school celebrates its landmark 30th birthday in this year’s festival concert.
The ENUJSS programme, which has been held since 1996, welcomed Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival-goers to the St Brides Centre for its annual concert in late July.
The summer school is currently run by renowned Scottish saxophonist Sue McKenzie. Her work in the jazz scene expands from musician to mentor, being a director at the Scottish saxophone academy and having performed at various international jazz festivals.
For a week every year, aspiring jazz musicians from across the country and beyond join at Edinburgh Napier University to immerse themselves in their craft under the tutelage of Scottish jazz greats.
ENUJSS 2026 participants following festival performance
The course prides itself on fostering a unique sense of community amongst participants in an age where creative expression is steadily becoming more isolated.
“More than anything, the programme is about giving people that spark. “
Sue McKenzie on the benefits of the course
“At the heart of it, the course is about getting people together, and getting them to work together and play together. That’s something you can’t replicate your own at home, or in your practice room.”
The programme’s milestone year is made all the more special to McKenzie as an ENUJSS alumni.
She described her role as programme director as a “full-circle moment”.
“I attended the summer school as a student, years and years ago. Now, I’m getting to work alongside some of the people who taught me. It’s lovely.”
Sue McKenzie performing with ENUJSS musicians
The ENUJSS welcomes any musician over the age of fourteen, with the oldest member this year being in their seventies.
Alongside it widely being an introduction to jazz for the attendees, it is often the participants’ first time playing in public, or playing in a band.
“That community is important. Younger people working with older people, inexperienced people working with more experienced people, and vice versa. Everybody brings something.”
ENUJSS performers playing at their best during the Jazz and Blues Festival
Alongside McKenzie, this year’s leading tutor team featured the talents of Edinburgh Napier jazz professor and composer Haftor Medböe, drummer Tom Bancroft, bassist Seth Bennet and celebrated pianist Dave Milligan.
According to McKenzie, this community experience results in the making of many ‘magical’ musical moments throughout the programme, and in the final concert.
“Because we push people out of their comfort zones, it results in really beautiful creative moments. These moments happen that are just wow, you can feel the air in the room change. Like, let’s record that, let’s take that on tour!”
