Underserved schools are drastically under-represented at the top band competitions in the country.
In the 2019-2020 school year, only 25.6% of the schools represented at the top band festivals in the country were Title 1 schools. We at Jazz Empowers developed our band director support program to help close this achievement gap in music education.
What is the Band Director Support Program?
Jazz Empowers' Band Director Support Program helps provide support to promising jazz programs at Title 1 schools.
Schools that are accepted into our program will receive:
• A $1,000 grant that can be used for instruments, sheet music, and other resources needed in order to run their jazz program
• Full access to all of Jazz Empowers curriculum resources
• Coaching sessions to help them develop as effective jazz educators
Grant recipient Dr. Ollie Liddell with his jazz band from Memphis Central High School at the 2025 Essentially Ellington Festival.
Hear From Our Support Schools!
Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music
“Jazz Empowers has been essential in the growth of the jazz program at Celia Cruz High School. With their support, we have been able to bring in guest artists to work with the band and purchase much needed supplies. We could not have made it this far without the generous support and partnership that Jazz Empowers provides, and we are so excited to be representing the the northeast at the 2020 Essentially Ellington Finals.”
Penelope Smetters-Jacono, band director
Memphis Central High School
“The organization has benefited my program immensely because there are things that these students would probably not have been able to experience without the financial and moral support from Jazz Empowers. I highly recommend Jazz Empowers to anyone with a jazz band or who has aspirations for starting a jazz band.”
Dr. Ollie Liddell, band director
Memphis Central Jazz Band Wins 2025 Essentially Ellington Festival!
We are excited to announce that Memphis Central High School, a Jazz Empowers Band Director Support School, won the 2025 Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City. Of over 120 bands who applied, Memphis Central got the opportunity to travel to NYC and compete against 26 other schools from the US, and 3 other schools from Spain, Japan, and Australia. Congratulations to Jazz Band director Dr. Ollie Liddell and the amazing young musicians in the Memphis Central Jazz Band!
