For the composition programme, Summer Session will place particular emphasis on the participants’ own compositions. Participants will gain insight into the working methods and knowledge of the renowned British pianist and composer Django Bates, while working on their own pieces, which can be tested and further developed in collaboration with the session’s musicians. The programme is conceived as both a creative laboratory and a practical workspace.

The composition programme functions as a sixth combo, which participants follow throughout the entire week. At the same time, it is structured so that participants can also take part in rotations, clinics, etc., in the same way as the other combos.

Individual online meeting with Bates before the session

Prior to Summer Session, each participant in the composition programme will have an individual online meeting with Django Bates, providing an opportunity to discuss their own ideas, sketches, or works in preparation for the work during the session.

Apply now

The Summer Session composition-combo is organized in collaboration with AUTOR, and you must be a member of Koda in order to apply.

Apply for a spot at this year’s composition-combo here

About Summer Session 2026

Dates: 2–8 August
Location: Krogerup Højskole, Krogerupvej 13, 3050 Humlebæk
Price: 7,000 DKK. For international musicians, the fee is 8,000 DKK (1,070 €).
Application deadline: 12 April 2026, 23:59
Notification of results: late April 2026

Summer Session is Jazz Danmark’s long-standing music course aimed at professional jazz musicians from Denmark and abroad. This year’s Summer Session faculty consists of Milena Casado, Tarus Mateen, Eric McPherson, Cheick Tidiane Seck and Juliana Venter. The artistic directors of Summer Session are Cornelia Nilsson and Jakob Dinesen.

About Django Bates

Django Bates is a British jazz musician, composer and bandleader. He is regarded as one of the UK’s most distinctive jazz artists and works across styles ranging from early jazz and bebop to free jazz and fusion, and plays instruments including piano, keyboard and tenor horn. He has performed with musicians such as Michael Brecker, Bill Bruford, Sidsel Endresen and Jack DeJohnette. As a composer, he works within jazz as well as classical music and music for theatre.