The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation in partnership with the Preservation Hall Foundation is proud to announce the 2023 Class Got Brass competition for Louisiana middle and high school students Class Got Brass. The event invites everyone to come and support the next generation of talented musicians in Louisiana.
Class Got Brass will take place on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center. The free competition, open to the public, prompts young musicians to create a New Orleans-style brass ensemble of up to 12 members and compete in a second line-style parade for a group of celebrity judges.
Winning schools will be awarded a share of over $50,000 in funding for musical instruments and other supplies. The competition has both beginner and advanced categories, and all competing schools will receive at least a $1,000 stipend towards musical programs.
The advanced category features several Louisiana schools including Abramson Sci Academy, Bonnabel High School, Edna Karr High School, George Washington Carver High School, L W Higgins High School, L B Landry High School, McDonogh 35, New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy, Riverdale High School, and Young Audiences Charter Schools.
The beginner category includes Akili Academy, Baker Middle School, Belle Chasse Academy, Crescent City Christian School, Fannie C Williams Charter School, GEO Next Generation High School, Grace King High School, Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy, KIPP Central City Academy, KIPP East Academy, Langston Hughes Academy, Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School of Literature and Technology, Mildred Osborne Charter School, Pierre A. Capdau, St. Mary's Academy, and St. Mary's Dominican High School.
Registration for the event will begin at 11:00 am, and the gates will open at 1:00 pm. The competition will begin at 2:00 pm.
For more information about Class Got Brass, including competition guidelines and song list, please visit the website at classgotbrass.org.