The Warren Music Conservatory will host an up-and-coming Master of Jazz for a week-long camp.

The camp will run Aug. 22 through 26 and is free for Warren County youth in grades five through 12. It is geared to students who already play instruments.

“The workshop will have a heavy focus on improvising, with a performance and open house at the end of the week,” Conservatory Music Director Joe Glarner said.

Students will perform with Glarner and other local teachers as well as with Mikel Prester.

“Mikel Prester is well on his way to becoming one of the New Masters of Jazz,” according to biographical information provided by Glarner. “Born in Philadelphia and raised in Meadville, Mr. Prester has had a love affair with music since age 8. His musical roots are deeply planted in Blues and Gospel music, via the late-great Duchess Overton of Bethel A.M.E. church. She was his first mentor.”

Primarily an alto saxophone player, Prester attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, earned a bachelor of music degree from University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

“While there, he had the pleasure of having the best and top players and educators in the world,” according to the bio. “Mikel’s highlight at the university was to study with Greg Osby. Mr. Prester has performed with some heavy-hitters like Wynton Marsalis, Ian Hendrickson-Smith, the Harlem Boys choir, the Vienna Boys choir, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and others.”

The camp, which is open to students who are Conservatory members and those who are not, is sponsored by the Erie Arts and Cultures Board and the Conservatory. “Because learning through the arts establishes and reinforces the soft skills necessary to live an enriched life in today’s ever-changing world, EAC envisions a region where every person has access to meaningful experiences that utilize the arts as a tool for personal development, both in academic and communal environments,” according to EAC.

Enrollment is limited to 25 and interested students may sign up by calling the Conservatory at (814) 580-3913.