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| Thelonious Monk Institute Announce Major Jazz Education Program On Monday, April 2, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz will announce the launch of the largest program initiative in the Institute's twenty-year history. The “Commitment to New Orleans” is a four year investment aimed to help in the revitalization and restoration of post Katrina New Orleans using jazz as a catalyst to bring people together in the spirit of America's music. This will be the first time in the Institute's history that one program will embody the entire mission of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz to foster the next generation of jazz greats, educate young people about jazz, and help to expand and perpetuate the music while engaging the Institute's students and jazz artists in various community service projects throughout New Orleans. At the core of the “Commitment to New Orleans” is the relocation of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, the Institute's prestigious graduate-level college program, to the campus of Loyola University New Orleans in association with the New Orleans Consortium, which includes Tulane University, the University of New Orleans, and three Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Dillard, Southern, and Xavier. The Institute has also pledged to implement sustainable public school and community jazz education programs to help strengthen the struggling school system, provide employment for New Orleans musicians, attract New Orleans musicians now living in other areas of the country back to their hometown, and unite the city's jazz, arts, and cultural communities. Jazz legends Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and New Orleans native, Terence Blanchard will join the incoming class for performances during the announcement celebration. Following the announcement and reception, the Institute will begin its “Jazz in America” program with an informational performance led by jazz sensations Bobby Watson and Lisa Henry for McMain High School students. As McMain's auditorium is still in need of repair after Hurricane Katrina, the program will be held at Loyola's Roussel Performance Hall. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |