Meet Leila

"I joined jazz for the fun of it - I really wanted to play an instrument, but I didn't have a particular one in mind. I'm really indecisive, but they gave me the bass guitar and that's what I stuck with. I actually have a name for my bass - it's Mori, inspired by the game Omori. I didn't know some of the other kids before I joined because they're in sixth grade and I'm in fifth grade, but now we're actually really great friends. I've created new bonds with everyone there, and the people I did know before I've made stronger bonds with. I listen a lot to Laufey, and I realized that her music is really similar to jazz. Going to jazz band gets me time to relax and calm down before going home, and it just feels really nice to hang out with friends after such a stressful day."

Leila, Jazz Empowers Student - Central Queens Academy, Queens, New York