March President’s Letter: Get Jazzed Day 2022

At jazz Philadelphia, we value the power of partnerships. We work closely with organizations that contribute to the vitality of our city and regional jazz scene. 

One such collaboration was the first Philadelphia-based Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Get JazzEd Day. On February 22, Berks Arts Council, Settlement Music School, and Jazz Philadelphia co-presented a day of workshops followed by a lively jam session at Settlement’s Mary Louise Curtis Branch.

As one of the teaching artists for the event, I was excited to see so many musicians come together to experience the joy of music—especially after a challenging period of isolation.

Settlement’s CEO, Helen Eaton, remarked on the diversity of the attendees. “The event drew 50 participants from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and musical experiences to unite in sharing their passion for jazz music through learning from eight distinguished clinicians.”

Get JazzED clinicians are celebrated artists who perform on Berks Jazz Fest stages, including Monnette Sudler, Andrew Neu, and Tony Miceli. Berks Jazz Fest, renowned for its 10-day jazz festival, also demonstrates a commitment to jazz education. 

Berks Arts Council Executive Director, Justin Heimbecker, embodies this commitment. Justin appreciates the strength in collaboration. “This regional partnership allowed us to work together to collectively impact many lives in a unique way, connecting our community and inspiring students of all ages through the arts.”

The collaboration between the organizations for Get JazzEd Day was fluid and inventive, much like jazz itself. And just like the music, which serves the purpose of touching the lives of the listeners, our partnerships are designed to impact the lives of musicians, educators, students—everyone in our creative community.  

For Jazz Appreciation Month be on the lookout for concerts we’ve programmed in conjunction with valued partners: The Office of Arts Culture and the Creative Economy, AMLA, Esperanza Arts Center, Cherry St. Pier, Jazz Bridge, and The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts.

If you want to partner with us, the door is always open. Visit our Get Involved page for more information on how to get involved.

With Gratitude,
Gerald Veasley
President, Jazz Philadelphia