SFJAZZ, a prominent cultural institution that has played a significant role in shaping and promoting jazz music across San Francisco, is proud to announce the appointment of Terence Blanchard as its new Executive Artistic Director. The seven-time Grammy winner and two-time Academy Award nominee will lead the organization's artistic programming, guide its overall creative direction, and contribute to its continued growth and success.
With SFJAZZ Founder Randall Kline stepping down this year, Blanchard's appointment comes at a crucial time for the institution. SFJAZZ is celebrating its 40th Anniversary and the 10th Birthday of the award-winning SFJAZZ Center, which has become a cultural landmark in the Bay Area.
Blanchard brings with him a wealth of experience as a celebrated composer, bandleader, and trumpeter who has consistently pushed the boundaries of jazz music for over four decades. His artistic creativity extends beyond the genre, encompassing film scoring, television series soundscapes, and grand operas that have been recognized at the highest levels of art appreciation.
A recipient of the 2018 USA Artist Fellowship and the 2023 Peabody Medal, Blanchard is also a passionate educational mentor. He has held positions at the Berklee Institute of Music, The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and as Chair of Jazz Studies at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, amongst many others. Furthermore, Blanchard has consistently integrated socio-cultural issues and racial injustices into his works, using his art to speak to the challenges of our time. Blanchard, as Executive Artistic Director, will be the organization's artistic head, helping to develop and deliver artistic programs across several disciplines and genres. He will collaborate closely with the SFJAZZ staff to produce year-round musical programming, grow the SFJAZZ 'At Home' digital platform, and improve community involvement and educational opportunities. Blanchard was hired following a national search performed by Arts Consulting Group.
Blanchard's long-standing relationship with SFJAZZ began years ago, and he has performed numerous times at the SFJAZZ Center and other affiliated events. He served as a SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director from 2014-2016 and presented his opera Champion: An Opera in Jazz in 2016. In August 2022, his E-Collective with Turtle Island Quartet performed at the SFJAZZ Center.
In conclusion, SFJAZZ could not have found a better-suited candidate to lead its artistic programming and guide the institution's creative direction than Terence Blanchard. His experience as a celebrated creative force in jazz and beyond, his passion for education, and his commitment to meaningful artistic expression make him the perfect fit for SFJAZZ as it embarks on a new era of growth and innovation.
Said Blanchard, "I am honored and excited to become a part of such an amazing and historic institution. SFJAZZ has meant so much to the development of America's Greatest artform. I am looking forward to collaborating with the staff while also bringing my own ideas about how to move our music forward and continue the SFJAZZ mission to explore the full spectrum of jazz—from its origins to its diverse and evolving expressions around the world today. I cannot wait to continue this journey."
Greg Stern, SFJAZZ CEO noted, "Terence Blanchard is an extraordinary artist whose experience and accomplishments make him an ideal creative leader for SFJAZZ, building on the incredible legacy that Randall Kline has worked to create over the past forty years."
SFJAZZ Board Chair Denise Young added, "We could not be more thrilled to have Terence leading and inspiring SFJAZZ in the fulfillment of a vision started 40 years ago. Terence's expansive impact upon so many areas and genres was a perfect match for the vision we have at SFJAZZ. He perfectly understands and embodies our desire to further enrich audience experiences, expand artist opportunities, and amplify the voices of this special music to powerfully and positively transform the future."
About SFJAZZ
The San Francisco Jazz Organization (SFJAZZ), founded in 1983 by Randall Kline, is a recognized international leader in jazz invention, performance, and teaching. SFJAZZ's aim is to study jazz from its beginnings in African American and Afro-Caribbean cultures to its expanding manifestations across the world today, including the whole range of jazz performance. We recognize the people and music that have impacted or been influenced by jazz, and we inspire and develop a community in the Bay Area and beyond via creation, performance, and education. Visit SFJAZZ.org has more details.
