“I like playing in the jazz band because it’s a connection that I build with my band members.”
— Josh (piano)
“I enjoy school because of jazz band - I look forward to learning new skills.”
— Melinda (trumpet)
“I get to make music I never thought I would be able to make.”
— Tyler
“I wasn’t a jazz musician when I joined, I joined because I wanted to be one.”
— Eva
Band Directors
“I was lucky enough to be brought on by Jazz Empowers at the moment that my jazz program was really starting to get good, and at the moment where I needed support as their band director.”
— Penelope Smetters-Jacono (director, Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music)
“There are things that these these students would probably not be able to experience without the financial and moral support of Jazz Empowers.”
— Dr. Ollie Liddell (director, Memphis Central High School)
Instructors
“The students are getting to know themselves through improvisation and that takes courage.”
— Danny Fernandez
Jazz Greats
“The importance of jazz education, well, you really can’t underestimate it at all.”
