Jazz Empowers Receives $20,000 Grant from the Vilcek Foundation to Support New York City Jazz Programs
Jazz Empowers is excited to announce a $20,000 grant from the Vilcek Foundation to support its Charter School Residency Program in New York City and the surrounding region. The grant will help provide additional teaching artist support, instrument and equipment upgrades, and a professional performance experience for students at the Spring 2027 New York City Student Showcase.
Through the Charter School Residency Program, Jazz Empowers partners with underserved schools to build and sustain jazz ensembles, providing professional musicians and educators, instruments at no cost to students, and a customized curriculum. Most participating ensembles rehearse two to three times each week throughout the school year, giving students consistent opportunities to develop their musicianship, express themselves, and build connections with their peers.
The grant will help bring expert teaching artist support into additional sectional rehearsals, where students work in smaller groups to focus on their instruments and strengthen their contributions to the full ensemble. Alongside this instruction, instrument upgrades will give students more opportunities to grow as musicians. Jazz Empowers has already been able to provide an upright bass to a middle school bass student in Brooklyn—one early example of how the grant is reaching students directly.
“Having the right instrument and focused time with a great teacher can make a real difference for a young musician,” said Andrew Johnston, Founder & Executive Director of Jazz Empowers. “This grant helps us give students more of those opportunities throughout the school year, along with a chance to share their progress on stage with their families and community.”
The grant will also help cover venue rental for Jazz Empowers’ Spring 2027 New York City Student Showcase at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn. The annual event brings participating ensembles together from across the city, giving students an opportunity to perform for their families, hear other young musicians, and celebrate what they have accomplished through a year of rehearsals.
Based in New York City, the Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. Its grants support organizations whose work complements that mission. This connection is especially meaningful in school communities such as Central Queens Academy, where Jazz Empowers serves students who are immigrants or the children of immigrants, helping them develop their creative voices through sustained access to music education.
Jazz Empowers extends its sincere appreciation to the Vilcek Foundation for this grant and its investment in young musicians. From focused rehearsals and better instruments to the shared experience of a live performance, the grant will help students continue building confidence, finding their voices, and discovering what is possible through jazz.
To learn more about the Vilcek Foundation and its work supporting the arts and sciences, visit the Vilcek Foundation website
