Jazz Empowers Hosts Inaugural LA Student Showcase at The Mint
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 2, students and families from across the greater Los Angeles area packed the legendary jazz club The Mint for the inaugural Jazz Empowers LA Student Showcase.
The event brought together more than 230 attendees across two packed sets, celebrating student artistry, music education, and the growing jazz community throughout Southern California.
The showcase featured electrifying performances from nine outstanding middle school and high school jazz groups, including:
Scholarship Prep South Bay Jazz Band
Scholarship Prep Orange County Jazz Band
Mulholland Middle School Jazz Band
School of Arts and Enterprise Big Band
School of Arts and Enterprise Combo
Los Angeles Leadership Academy Jazz Band
Porter Middle School Jazz Band
Cedar LA School Jazz Band
Asa Kaufman Trio
From the first note to the final applause, the energy inside The Mint was undeniable. Students enthusiastically supported one another throughout the afternoon, cheering on fellow bands and celebrating each performance with genuine excitement and encouragement.
What stood out most was the incredible sense of community that filled the room. The positivity, camaraderie, and mutual respect between the student musicians reflected exactly what Jazz Empowers strives to build through music education programs and live performance opportunities.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when Jasmine Powers surprised Jazz Empowers National Student Council member Parker with a brand-new guitar from Gibson Guitars, courtesy of Gibson Gives, a proud sponsor of Jazz Empowers. Gibson Gives also sponsors Parker’s scholarship through the Jazz Empowers National Student Council program, making the surprise an especially meaningful moment for everyone in attendance.
The inaugural LA Student Showcase was more than just a concert — it was a celebration of young artists, dedicated educators, supportive families, and the future of jazz in Los Angeles.
Jazz Empowers is proud to continue creating opportunities for students to perform, connect, and grow through jazz, and we are already looking forward to next year’s showcase.