If the next Duke Ellington or Ella Fitzgerald emerges in the coming years, they may very well come from the vibrant year-round programs of DC Jazz Festival Education!
Our mission, beyond teaching jazz, is to nurture lifelong learners while fostering a love for this rich art form. “From our youngest participants to aspiring professionals, we are building skills, confidence, and connection to the incredible jazz legacy that belongs to all of us,” said DC Jazz Festival CEO Sunny Sumter.
This year, one of our cornerstone programs, DC Jazz Bops! introduces pre-K through 2nd-grade students to jazz through engaging storybooks, rhythmic exercises, and playful activities. Taught by me in my teaching artist role, these sessions don’t just promote literacy and math skills—they inspire students to discover their voice and confidence through music. Our theme song says it best: “We sing, we swing, we sway Clavé! The music, it never stops! Our elders live on in every note they wrote, because DC Jazz Bops! We are DC Jazz Bops!”
For older students, Jazzin’ AfterSchool, led by teaching artist Herman Burney, provided beginning students opportunity to play in an ensemble and a showcase concert where students perform for family and friends. Similarly, our Beginning Guitar Program flourished in underserved communities across Wards 7 and 8, introducing students to the joys of music-making in a supportive, hands-on environment.
We were also thrilled to announce the launch of the JazzDC Youth Ensemble, in partnership with Sitar Arts Center and DC Youth Orchestra. Led by saxophonist Elijah Balbed, this audition-based ensemble provides serious young players in the DC area with mentorship and performance opportunities, preparing them for professional music careers.
Our Jazzin’ InSchool Field Trip Initiative, with major support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, brought live jazz directly to students. With professional musicians like Artist in Residence Corcoran Holt and percussionist Pedrito Martinez leading the way, International Rhythms of Jazz—From Clave to Afro-Pop! engaged students through music and storytelling, often providing their first opportunity to experience live jazz.
During our annual DC JazzFest, our education team hosted Meet the Artist interviews. Conversations with NEA Jazz Masters like Artist-in-Residence Ron Carter, DownBeat blindfold test with Stanley Clarke, DCJazzPrix winner Hiruy Tirfe Quartet, and Terri Lyne Carrington on her New Standards Exhibit gave festivalgoers an intimate opportunity to connect with both legendary and emerging artists. With six youth ensembles in performance during DC JazzFest, we bridged generations and celebrated the continuum of jazz. And, thanks to Amazon, we provided 1,827 DC JazzFest tickets, free-of-charge to our DC public and charter school students, teachers and their families.
All education programs are led by jazz professionals, with a substantial amount of DCJF Education covered thanks to the generosity of foundations like the Galena Yorktown Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Venable Foundation, Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, Les Paul Foundation, and individual and community donors like you. If you haven’t yet contributed to this year’s education programs, there’s still time to make a difference. Your donation fuels the next generation of jazz musicians and ensures that these programs remain accessible to all.
Thank you for believing in the power of jazz education to transform lives. Together, we are preserving the past, inspiring the present, and building the future of jazz.
With gratitude,
Heidi Martin
Manager, Education and Outreach
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