Women in Jazz Initiative
Upcoming Workshops & Programs
Women in Jazz Workshops
Join Walker|West’s Women in Jazz Initiative for interactive jazz workshops led by local women jazz musicians, along with opportunities to play together in jam sessions. No prior jazz experience required. Free to participate.
When & Where:
May 3, 2025 | 1:00-5:00 PM | Blues Workshop led by Mary Louise Knutson | RSVP here
Walker|West Music Academy, 650 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104
Workshop Instructors
Click on the tabs above to learn more about each workshop instructor.
Mary Louise Knutson
Minneapolis-based jazz pianist and composer Mary Louise Knutson is known for her warm style, emotional range, and award-winning compositions. She has performed with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby McFerrin, and Doc Severinsen, and appears regularly with the Mary Louise Knutson Trio and local ensembles like the JazzMN Orchestra. Her albums Call Me When You Get There and In the Bubble earned national recognition, including Top 10 JazzWeek chart rankings.
Liz Draper
Bassist Liz Draper has performed with a wide range of artists, from Grammy-nominated band Low to folk legend Charlie Parr and the Grammy-winning Okee Dokee Brothers. Classically trained with a degree in bass performance, Liz also studied at Brooklyn’s School for Improvised Music. A 2019 Giant Steps Fellow and 2021 American Composers Forum awardee, she now tours with Grammy-nominated songwriter Iris Dement and teaches through MacPhail Center for Music, The Music Lab, and her home studio.
Ginger Commodore
Singer, songwriter, and actress Ginger Commodore is an original member of Grammy-winning Sounds of Blackness and vocal jazz ensemble Moore by Four. Her theater credits span the Minnesota Opera, Penumbra Theatre, and more. She has performed across the U.S. and internationally, and now produces tribute shows honoring artists like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Ginger also teaches through VocalEssence’s “Witness” program and performs regularly at venues including the Dakota and Crooners Supper Club.
Jendeen Forberg
Drummer Jendeen Forberg began playing at age 8, studying for over two decades with renowned teacher Elliot Fine. She led the Wolverines Big Band and has toured internationally with groups like All The Pretty Horses. A versatile musician, Jendeen performs across genres, from jazz to rock, and subs for productions at Chanhassen Dinner Theater and beyond. Offstage, she’s spent years advocating for at-risk youth and vulnerable adults.
Stephanie Wieseler
Saxophonist, composer, and educator Stephanie Wieseler leads the jazz fusion project Society of Chemists and performs with ensembles like JazzMN Orchestra and Selby Avenue Brass. She toured internationally with Grammy-winning band Bon Iver and has performed at venues including the Hollywood Bowl. Stephanie teaches jazz ensembles at Walker|West and collaborates widely across the Twin Cities. She is an alumna of the Disneyland All-American College Band and New England Conservatory.
Jenny Case
2025 Program Activities
She Rock Open Jam – Saturday, April 12, 2-5 PM
Women in Jazz Retreat – Tues, June 24 to Sat, June 28, 9AM –4PM. Learn More | Link to Register
Mission
Walker West Music Academy’s Women in Jazz Initiative was formed to address the gender gap in jazz. It is focused on providing more opportunities for women, non-binary and trans youth to participate in music performance, promoting conversations about gender equity, and providing safe and supportive spaces for players to experience #jazzwithoutpatriarchy, a movement being led by the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice at Berklee College of Music.
We are actively creating space for women, non-binary, and trans students of all ages to play together, providing opportunities for connection and mentorship, and musical growth, while increasing visibility for women students, artists and organizations across MN. WWMA recognizes its own gaps in representation of women throughout our jazz programs and teaching faculty, and is working to highlight women jazz artists across the Twin Cities and beyond as we continue this work.
This work is funded in part by MHC with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008
About Women in Jazz Programming
Women, Non-binary and Trans and gender expansive players are invited to participate. All welcome to attend.
Women in Jazz Retreat - Summer 2025
A week-long comprehensive experience for women, non-binary and trans musicians to hone their performing skills, connect with other like-minded players and receive mentoring and coaching from leading women jazz faculty. Culminating in a live performance! Tuition Assistance available.
Women in Jazz Workshop & Open Jams
Quarterly @ Walker West Music Academy – Interactive to jazz workshops led by local women jazz musicians, with an opportunity to play together in a jam to follow. Open to all ages and skill levels. No prior Jazz experience required. Free to participate.
She Rock All-Ages Open Jam
Quarterly @ Walker West Music Academy – Sing or play with the house band, or just relax and enjoy the show! Open to all ages and skill levels, with over 50 songs on our list to jam on. A partnership with She Rock She Rock. More at sherocksherock.org/she-rock-jams. Free to participate.
Masterclasses with National Touring Women Jazz Artists
Including Alexa Tarantino, Camille Thurman, Karrin Allyson, and Kandace Springs and more.
The Jazzwomen Collective - Fall 2024/Spring 2025
An ensemble of emerging Women in Jazz. This group premiered at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on the Youth Stage in 2023, and on the Mears Park Mainstage in 2024.
In-school Women in Jazz Combos Fall 2024/Spring 2025
Walker West supported students from area high schools in forming their own Women in Jazz ensembles, with support from Walker West WIJ teaching artists.
Explore the Highlights from past Women In Jazz Workshop!
Walker|West’s Jazzwomen Collective
The Walker|West Jazzwomen Collective brings together women and non-binary musicians with ties to the Twin Cities jazz scene to promote gender justice in jazz. The group performs a mix of original compositions and arrangements and consists of seven emerging instrumentalists.
Past Women In Jazz Programming
2025
Youth Women in Jazz Workshop
Saturday, February 8, 10am-4pm at South High School
Women in Jazz Workshop & Jam Session: Bossa with Joan Griffith
Saturday, March 22, 1-5pm at Walker West
WIJ School Partnerships:
Central High School, Andersen Middle School, Hopkins High School
2024
Women in Jazz Workshop & Jam Session: Bandleading Basics with Sarah M Greer
Saturday, November 1pm at Walker West Music Academy
Workshop with Mary Petrich
Monday, October 7pm at Walker West Music Academy
Walker West’s Women in Jazz Retreat Ensemble Performance led by Claudia Medina & Ivanna Cuesta Gonzalez
Friday, June 21 2pm at Twin Cities Jazz Fest @ Saint City
Masterclass with Karrin Allyson
Friday, June 21 12:30pm at Twin Cities Jazz Fest @ Saint City
Masterclass with Kandace Springs
Saturday, June 22 11am at as part of Twin Cities Jazz Fest @ Walker|West
Jazzwomen Collective Performance “A Chronology of Jazz Matriarchy”
Saturday, June 22 4pm, Mears Park Mainstage at Twin Cities Jazz Festival
Women in Jazz Workshop & Jam Session: Intro to Jazz with Jenny Case
Saturday, May 18 1pm @ Walker|West Music Academy
Women in Jazz Workshop & Jam Session: Intro to Jazz with Joan Griffith
Saturday, March 5 1pm @ Walker|West Music Academy
Youth Women in Jazz Workshop
Tuesday, February 6 9am-3pm @ South High School
Women In Jazz School Partnerships:
Central High School
2023
Masterclass with Alexa Tarantino
Monday, March 6, 6pm @ Walker|West Music Academy
Masterclass with Camille Thurman
Friday, June 22 2pm at Creator’s Space
Walker|West’s Women in Jazz Combo Performance
Saturday, June 23, 6pm @ Creator’s Space
Opportunities to engage in the Twin Cities Jazz Community
- Jazz Central Studios (in NE Minneapolis). Shows Friday and Saturday 8pm, also live-streamed at jazzcentralstudios.org
- Icehouse (S Minneapolis). Shows Monday nights, 6pm doors, 8pm showtime, regularly featuring jazz artists and monthly curators. Other jazz artist featured throughout the week.
- Crooner’s Lounge and Supper Club, jazz artists regularly featured throughout the week, check their calendar! (Fridley)
- Tuesday Night Jazz Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon (NE Minneapolis). Hosted by Graydon Peterson, 10pm-1am. 21+.
Walker West Youth Programs
- Walker West Jazz Combos – To learn more and sign up, click here.
- Digital Music Production Program – Learn more.
- Private Lessons – Check out the line up of teachers, here.
- Summer Jazz Intensive at WW – July 29-Aug 2, 2024. Learn more
Connect
To get involved, contact Women in Jazz Initiative Program Director, Katia Cardenas at katia@walkerwest.org.
2024 Musicians
Ella Grace – Trumpet
Ella Grace is an up-and-coming performer, composer, educator, and producer based in Chicago and Minnesota. She started studying trumpet in middle school with Steve Strand and soon began gigging locally with her own jazz combo. Ella moved to Chicago in 2021 where she is working towards a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Trumpet at DePaul University. Ella currently studies with Chad McCullough and Dana Hall, performs regularly around Chicago, and also visits Minnesota to perform around the Twin Cities.
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify
Gabby Helf – Drums
Gabby Helf is a drummer and percussionist originally from Glen Echo, Maryland, now based in Saint Paul. Gabby recently graduated from Macalester College with a degree in English Literature and played drums for four years in Mac Jazz, Macalester’s big band. She grew up playing in all sorts of wind ensembles, jazz combos, rock bands, and pit orchestras in the DC area and was the drummer for the 2019 Maryland All-State Jazz Band. Gabby currently plays drums in the indie-rock band, Bakermiller Pink (Instagram and Spotify).
Izzy Karr – Flute, Piano, Vocals
Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Izzy Karr began playing the flute when she was 10, and started taking lessons with James Devoll 2 years later. In middle school, she participated in concert, marching and jazz bands. Izzy went to SPCPA (Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists) for high school where she studied instrumental music, and enjoyed her wealth of opportunities to play 20th-century music with the chamber orchestra, play in woodwind trio and quintet, pit orchestras and ‘Improvestra’ for J-terms, jazz combos and big band. Outside of school, Izzy played in GTCYS (Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies) and MYS (Minnesota Youth Symphonies), as well as the top All-State band.
After graduating in 2020, Izzy attended the University of Minnesota – Duluth for 2 years and began to take an interest in singing/songwriting before making the decision to drop out and pursue her degree elsewhere. She moved back to the Twin Cities and has supplemented her musical education by taking lessons and classes at Walker West and will be finishing her degree at Berklee College in Boston. You can stay up to date with Izzy on Instagram: @izzykarr.music or on Spotify, Soundcloud, or Apple Music under ‘Izzy Karr’.
Sophia Kaufmann – Bass
Sophia Kaufmann is an upright and electric bassist from Oakland, California now based in Minneapolis. Sophia recently graduated from Macalester College with degrees in music and sociology. At Macalester, Sophia was the manager and upright bassist for the big band Mac Jazz and she plays in smaller jazz combos around the Twin Cities. She grew up playing jazz in combos and big bands around the Bay Area and participated in the summer Stanford Jazz Workshop for multiple years. She also has played electric bass in various rock bands and currently plays and writes songs for the indie-rock band, Bakermiller Pink (Instagram: @Gabby Helf is a drummer and percussionist originally from Glen Echo, Maryland, now based in Saint Paul. Gabby recently graduated from Macalester College with a degree in English Literature and played drums for four years in Mac Jazz, Macalester’s big band. She grew up playing in all sorts of wind ensembles, jazz combos, rock bands, and pit orchestras in the DC area and was the drummer for the 2019 Maryland All-State Jazz Band. Gabby currently plays drums in the indie-rock band, Bakermiller Pink (Instagram and Spotify).
Sophia Kickhofel – Saxophone
Sophia Kickhofel is a saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist currently studying jazz music in New York City. She is originally from Minnesota, but has moved to the East Coast in order to study at the prestigious Juilliard School. Sophia has performed around the world with many notable musicians including Sean Jones, Ulysses Owens Jr, and jazz historian Loren Schoenberg.
Lo Salinas – Piano
Lo is a Minneapolis-based pianist influenced by the works of Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Chaka Kahn. Born in New Orleans, they found themselves influenced by the deep jazz culture of the city. Lo graduated from Winona State University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing while also studying music. They started performing last year in jazz trios, chamber orchestras, and combos. They additionally perform as a singer and keyboardist in the jazz-punk band Topiary Blush. They are excited to be a part of this opportunity to represent diversity in jazz.
