Back to School Open House for Young Musicians
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and the New Orleans Music Education Collaborative are hosting an open-house style event to showcase youth music programs across the city.
The open house will take place on Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the foundation's George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, located at 1225 N. Rampart St., and will offer the opportunity for students and families to learn more about music programs for local youth.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation doesn't just host Jazz Fest; it is also dedicated to preserving the history and culture of music in New Orleans, as well as ensuring its future by providing the city's young people with the resources to become musicians. The Jazz & Heritage Foundation's George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, where the open house will take place, is the site of their free music education programs including the Don "Moose" Jamison Heritage School of Music, which has served the community since 1990.
The showcase will include over 11 musical organizations with opportunities for instrumental, vocal, and performing arts, as well as music production instruction. Many of the organizations strive for accessibility by providing transportation to their after school programs.
Confetti Park is a center for children's music and media highlighting Louisiana culture. It has a radio and podcast hosted by Katy Hobgood Ray that showcases local music, child musicians, a story time from a featured local author, and more. Ray also directs the organization's children's chorus, called the Confetti Park Players. She has made award-winning children's CD's and books and also hosts local events that incorporate community and musicianship.
The Ellis Marsalis Jr. Center for Music was named in honor of local musician Ellis Marsalis Jr. The center for music shares his passion for youth music education outreach, as well as his philosophy of making each student feel seen and important. Their youth programming includes after school and weekend music classes, music technology classes with a focus on music production, and health and wellness initiatives to provide students with mentorship, counseling, academic support, and snacks. Music classes include areas of interest such as strings, percussion, bass, guitar, brass, woodwinds, vocals, and dance.
The Roots of Music is a nonprofit organization focused on teaching music theory and instrumental skills while eliminating the common barriers to musical education. Created in 2007 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Roots of Music offers both music and academic tutoring, as well as free transportation and hot meals to participating students aged 3 through 13. Their programming includes Sprouts of Music, (an after school music program for children in kindergarten and first grade at KIPP Believe charter school), the Marching Crusaders marching band for students aged 9 to 14, and an audio engineering and production 10-month intensive for students aged 15 to 18.
Other featured programs will include the Trombone Shorty Academy, Young Starz NOLA, Girls Play Trumpet Too, Musicians & Mentors, the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
Attending the Event
Whether your student is interested in instrumental opportunities, singing, dancing, or performing theatre, the open-house will help parents and students learn more and provide answers to any questions they might have. If you are curious about what the city's youth music programs have to offer, this a great place to start!
The event is free to attend and attendees can register on the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's website.
