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| AWARD-WINING JAZZ ARTIST KATHERINE FARNHAM TO LAUNCH NATIONAL CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Grammy U Mentor, Billboard-charting and internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter/pianist Katherine Farnham has founded a new charitable organization. The National Center for Contemporary Music is devoted to music and arts education, master classes, live performance concerts, compilation recordings as well as championing music by new and up and coming composers. The organization's work will also be centered around creating a positive community spirit, strengthening American culture, creating international cultural bridges and also passing on Katherine's one hundred and fifty year musical, artistic and pedagogical lineage dating directly back to legendary artist teachers. The seed for the organization was birthed in 2007 in Los Angeles. Katherine later spent several years in New York City starting in 2019 researching this lineage. She studied piano during her youth with her mother, Betty Lou Farnham, a concert pianist, composer and former Director of New England Conservatory's Wellesley Preparatory Branch. Her mother studied with Madame Karin Dayas, a well known European concert pianist who also taught at conservatory in the United States for many years. Madame studied piano with her parents, who were pupils of the legendary Franz Liszt. Liszt's teaching legacy is vast and well known, spreading to the likes of jazz pianist and educator Oscar Peterson and others. Researching the line even further, Liszt was a student of technician Carl Cherny who studied with historic pianist and composer Ludwig von Beethoven. Katherine wrote her first song at age four during a family road trip and began performing as leading actress and vocal soloist the following year at her church. She began formal music training with her mother at age seven and went pro at fourteen. Her discography has won thirty-seven awards and nine nominations and is included in The Jazz Discography, the world's largest database of recorded jazz featuring over a century's worth of music. Katherine was nominated for "Best Jazz Artist", "Americana: Blues and Roots Artist" and won "Best Female Singer/Songwriter in Los Angeles Music Awards History" (25 Years). She has performed on stages with Latin jazz greats Celia Cruz and Tito Puente Jr. and has recorded with many renowned musicians including Grammy winner and legendary saxophonist Kirk Whalum, Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres, Blues Hall of Famer and Grammy winner Darrell Leonard, Grammy Winner Jeff Taylor, Grammy Nominees Denny Jiosa and Mindi Abair, acclaimed Brazilian artist Guinga to name a few. Her "VINTAGE" LP has earned rave reviews, interview requests and airplay in US, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa and standing ovation and sold out live performances. In recognition of her considerable contributions to the genre, "VINTAGE" was added to the prestigious jazz archives at the Mediatheque Musicale de Paris, France.She has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC 6, Telemundo and toured throughout the US and abroad. She has performed at festivals including the Hub City Jazz Festival near NYC, and at major sporting events such as the Ericsson Open (the only female artist), Miami Marathon and national dates for NASCAR. Katherine is a third generation Ivy League educated leader and also a fourth generation musician. "Excellence is something that many of us can find within ourselves if we lead with our hearts and spirits and apply some effort. Achievement for me has never been about making others feel small or being overly competitive. It's always been about teamwork, expressing my best and highest soul, overcoming challenges through hard work, and giving back. The greatest artists I have ever known have given of themselves tirelessly and I definitely strive to follow in their footsteps." When recording the "LOVE PHILOSOPHY" LP in Los Angeles, Katherine had the opportunity to record her Global Music Award winning track "NATURE BOY" featuring Blues Hall of Fame and Grammy Winner Darrel Leonard on Oscar Peterson's former Steinway grand piano. "I didn't even know at that time that the piano belonged to him or even that he was connected to a similar teaching legacy. But I kept staring at it. I felt something unusual yet peaceful about it. Eventually I asked about the history of the instrument and an incredible story began to unfold." "When I was fourteen, I had a few lessons with my mother when she seemed incredibly inspired when discussing Beethoven and Liszt. I noticed it but it took many years for me to understand it. At that time, I had absolutely no idea that she was actually discussing artist teachers who were in her direct teaching line. But there was something unmistakeable about the passion in her voice and also in the clarity of direction and understanding that came from those experiences. She was able to take me from being completely confused, frustrated and lost in comprehending the music to a place of awe, reverence, love and total understanding. When I ended up teaching keyboard in the Los Angeles inner city in 2007, I was able to break new ground with at risk students by utilizing Beethoven's example. This came after a month of consistent research and experimentation. Even without a conscious knowledge or understanding of the lineage, the spirit of those artists and their unforgettable contributions was still somehow present and serving students. All of this leads me to believe that education is still one of the most important factors in a successful society. We have a duty to preserve it and advance it whenever possible." Raised in a military as well as an artistic family, Katherine understands the complex dynamics of our times and also how the arts can help to soothe people and create understanding. "At a time in history when people's viewpoints have become ever more polarized, it can be comforting to realize that God already gave humankind a universal language that most people enjoy. Many, if not all of answers are already there." In addition to being an award-winning recording and spoken word artist, live jazz performer and humanitarian, Katherine has also taught Jazz and Broadway Voice on the Faculty of several universities and has had several of her articles published in magazines. She was Guest Lecturer and Performer for the National Federation of Music Clubs, The Rotary Club and others. She has organized and sponsored several benefit concerts in Miami and Los Angeles and she supports many other charities including UNHCR, IFRC, The Salvation Army, ASPCA, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, The United Negro College Fund, and more. Katherine has also done over fifteen years of veteran outreach as well as serving a term in AmeriCorps as Community Liaison. She collaborated with the Mayor of Miami-Dade County donating hundreds of hours of volunteer time working for ethnic unity as the writer/artist behind "Mosaic" the Theme Song of Unity included in official television and radio public service announcements. Accomplished in both the academic and music worlds, Katherine studied with several classical and jazz legends and received numerous scholarships to study at Tanglewood, conservatory and more. She earned her BM Degree with highest honors from Boston's acclaimed Berklee College of Music, her MM Degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and has done post graduate work at Cornell University in New York. She also holds four certifications. Her students are competition and award winners and have graduated from the top conservatories. She adjudicated the Piano Solo Category at National Federation of Music Clubs Festival as well as the Non-Classical Voice Category at the Los Angeles Music Center's Annual Spotlight Awards alongside many Broadway veterans. Katherine says, “I am eternally grateful to each and every one of my mentors and teachers who have given of themselves. We have been blessed to have a great gift in music and the arts and society becomes better when we embrace our unity as well as our diversity. This legacy has brought me a great deal of joy and I’m excited about sharing it with others.” The organization is searching for community partners in the Nashville area, as well as volunteers and is also conducting a nationwide talent search for acts in all genres to perform at the official launch event. Interested musicians aged 21 and older may email one MP3, a statement of artistic mission, a three paragraph biography and the application fee of $50.00 on the website no later than April 30th, 2025. Chosen acts will perform in the official launch event and will have the opportunity to communicate how their work contributes positively to American culture and positive international dialogue. Questions can be directed to admin@legacyartseducation.org. For more information, to get involved or to make a donation to the organization, please contact director@legacyartseducation.org. write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |