The criteria for partners selection is based on past positive engagements with the Skipp Pearson Jazz Foundation.
Description of the Organization: The Gershwin Initiative located on the campus of the University of Michigan exists to conduct an ongoing scholarly examination of the Gershwiins’ music, in which U-M scholars in collaboration with peers from across the nation and globe will document and analyze—note-by-note and word-by-word—the treasure trove of works featuring music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. As a OAHJ partner the Gershwin Initiative will provide invaluable information on the different genres of Jazz music being covered by the OAHJ series.
Description of the Organization: In today’s interconnected world, culture’s power to transform societies is clear. Its diverse manifestations – from our cherished historic monuments and museums to traditional practices and contemporary art forms – enrich our everyday lives in countless ways. Heritage constitutes a source of identity and cohesion for communities disrupted by bewildering change and economic instability. Creativity contributes to building open, inclusive, and pluralistic societies. Both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative, and prosperous knowledge societies.
UNESCO is convinced that no development can be sustainable without a strong culture component. Indeed only a human-centered approach to development based on mutual respect and open dialogue among cultures can lead to lasting, inclusive and equitable results. Yet until recently, culture has been missing from the development equation.
To ensure that culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and processes, UNESCO has adopted a three-pronged approach: it spearheads worldwide advocacy for culture and development, while engaging with the international community to set clear policies and legal frameworks and working on the ground to support governments and local stakeholders to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.
HERBIE HANCOCK INSTITUTE OF JAZZ
Description of the Organization: Founded in 1986 the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization with a mission to offer the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and to present public school music education programs for young people around the world. The Institute preserves, perpetuates, and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. All of the Institute’s programs are provided free of charge to students, schools and communities worldwide. The Institute’s programs use jazz as the medium to encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and a respect for one’s own and others’ cultural heritage.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEGRO MUSICIANS, INC.
Description of the Organization: For almost a century, the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. (NANM) has been a champion for African and African-American music and musicians. is concerned with the performance and preservation of uniquely African-American music, while acknowledging and providing opportunity to the Black composer and performer.
The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. is this country’s oldest organization dedicated to the preservation, encouragement, and advocacy of all genres of the music of Black Americans. NANM had its beginning on May 3, 1919 in Washington, D.C. at a temporary initial conference of “Negro” musicians under the leadership of Henry Grant and Nora Holt. Its first national convention was held in Chicago, Illinois in the same year. Our organization is supported by people of strong cultural ideals and high musical standards, all of whom care deeply for the fine art of music and for an inclusive musical culture throughout the country. Within NANM, members lend their support and influence—educators and professional musicians share their musical knowledge, amateurs and enthusiasts grow in their musical enjoyment, and people of all ages come together to participate in one of the most powerful forces of spiritual and cultural development and the total human experience that is music.
From the beginning, NANM has provided encouragement and support to thousands of Black American musicians, many of whom have become widely respected figures in music and have contributed significantly to American culture and music history. The organization has awarded scholarships to scores of talented young musicians throughout the country. A list of them would include such luminaries as Marian Anderson (first scholarship award recipient in 1919), William L. Dawson, Florence B. Price, Margaret Bonds, Warren George Wilson, James Frazier, Julia Perry, Grace Bumbry, Leon Bates, Joseph Joubert, Awadagin Pratt, and many, many others.
Description of the Organization: Jazz Foundation of America is founded in New York by Dr. Billy Taylor, Phoebe Jacobs, Ann Ruckert, Cy Blank, and Herb Storfer. After the original Jazz Museum in New York City lost its space and was shut down, this group came together to start an organization to preserve and promote the legacy of jazz.
Description of the Organization: International Women in Jazz (IWJ) is a non-profit organization 501(c)3 and is committed to supporting women jazz artists and related professionals. We recognize and acknowledge the contributions women make to jazz worldwide. Through our programs, IWJ provides information and assistance to its members, thus standing dedicated to actively ensuring a place for women as a vital part of the past, present, and future of Jazz.
DIMENNA CENTER FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC
Description of the Organization: The DiMenna Center for Classical Music built in 2011 exists to support the work of Orchestra of St. Lukes and other organizations. As New York City’s only acoustically-optimized rehearsal and recording space dedicated to classical music DiMenna is an unparalleled resource serving the entire musical community—from soloists to symphony orchestras—through affordable, state-of-the-art facilities.
The DiMenna Center has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors, including more than 400 ensembles and artists such as Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Valery Gergiev, James Taylor, and Sting. Committed to serving the musical community and its Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, The DiMenna Center hosts hundreds of neighbors, families, and school children each year for free community events. Orchestra of St. Luke’s is committed to creating a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion on stage and off. We oppose all forms of racism and discrimination, systemic and individual. This requires ongoing work, understanding, analyses of root causes, and a willingness to adjust, reflect, and grow. We affirm the full humanity of all who join us in seeking the beauty, meaning, and connection essential to music making. At OSL equity means aiding in the collective effort for a more just society.
Diversity is the constellation of social identities such as: race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, religion, and disability. At Orchestra of St. Luke’s, we are committed to fostering diversity amongst our audience, students, repertoire, musicians, faculty, staff, and board.
Inclusion builds a culture of belonging by actively welcoming the contributions and participation of all people. At Orchestra of St. Luke’s, inclusion means every person will be respected and appreciated as a valuable member of the organization and the community it serves.
BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Description of the Organization: Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. The District is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962, and has nearly 261,000 students and approximately 110,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 92 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, representing 177 different countries and 151 different languages.
White: 51.2% / 133,368
Black: 40.5% / 105,605
Asian: 3.9% / 10,200
Native American or Native Alaskan: .5% / 1,288
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: .2% / 556
Multiracial: 3.70% / 9,698
Hispanic: 36.1% / 94,154
Non-Hispanic: 63.9% / 166,561
English Language Learners (ELL): 12.2% / 31,682
Exceptional Student Education (ESE): 14.4% / 37,622
Free or Reduced Lunch Meals: 62.2% / 162,235
Description of the Organization: A World Music Concert Venue on the second floor of a historic Baltimore townhouse that provides live music and streaming performances 52 weeks of every calendar year. Snice 2004, An die Musik has hosted a staggering 4,000-plus events, many of them jazz and contemporary classical concerts. It won Best Jazz Venue in this year’s All About Jazz reader’s poll and was cited as a “Great Jazz Venue” by Downbeat magazine from 2016-2018.
This intimate, idiosyncratic 75 seats concert hall has brought the likes of iconic composer and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, Carla Bley to An die Musik Live! along with an equally incredible list of music masters. The list includes guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, percussionist Kahil El’Zabar, saxophonists Gary Bartz and David Murray, and many artists associated with ECM, a record label revered for its genre-blurring releases. The likes of Pulitzer-winning composer Julia Wolfe, New Yorker critic Alex Ross, and BSO maestra Marin Alsop have also appeared at An die Musik to discuss their work.
Description of the Organization: Slife Productions is a dynamic multimedia production company based in Philadelphia, PA. In business since 2005, Slife Productions has provided video and audio production services for corporate and non-profit clients, individuals and marketing/PR agencies. Our work has appeared on broadcast television, on the Jumbtron at Lincoln Financial Field during Eagles games, the Phillies Stadium’s Phanavision screen, at the Kimmel Center and the Philly Ad Club annual luncheon. We work with a variety of budgets to produce artful video, animation, and motion graphics, compelling still images, as well as engineering and post-production for audio and music recordings.
Slife Productions clients include Mercedes Benz USA, Philadelphia University, the Kimmel Center, The Papal Foundation, CBS Radio, Zurich North America, the Triumph Group, the University of the Arts, CSG-Design, the California Transition Center for Combat Veterans: the Pathway Home, the School District of Philadelphia, Asociación de Puertoriqqueños en Marcha, the Chilean and American Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia Futures, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and many more. Please contact us to discuss your project.