Seattle JazzED provides exceptional jazz education and performance opportunities to Seattle area youth, regardless of their prior music instruction or ability to pay. Seattle JazzED grew out of an idea that Executive Director Laurie de Koch had while en route to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival with the Washington Middle School Jazz Band. "How great would it be," she thought to herself, "if we could bring the opportunity for these kinds of experiences and life skills to all the youth in our region?" In a city that is nationally recognized for its award-winning public school jazz education programs, access to these programs is limited to a very small percentage of the student population who reside within the boundaries of those schools' assignment areas. In 2009, Laurie took her idea for Seattle JazzED to Clarence Acox, the renowned director of the Garfield High School Jazz Ensembles, and then to Robert Knatt, the legendary former band director at Washington Middle School. They both immediately signed on to the concept, and with the enthusiastic help of co-founder Shirish Mulherkar and several founding sponsors and board members, Seattle JazzED was launched in 2010. From the start, Seattle JazzED's curriculum was designed to set an expectation of excellence for all students, instilling a set of values that create not only successful musicians, but successful human beings. Along with musical skills, our students acquire life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and confidence. Having these kinds of experiences through music education helps establish a high level of self-esteem and competence that will carry students successfully through adulthood, thus creating the socially and intellectually healthy individuals upon which our community depends. Laurie de Koch, Executive Director Britt Madsen, Associate Director of Programs and Development Aaron Walker-Loud, Education & Outreach Coordinator Karin Fosberg, Finance Manager Curt Clausen, Senior Vice President, Banner Bank Elvis Fraser, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Mike Halperin, Founding Sponsor, Seattle JazzED; Physician Juan Huey-Ray, Artistic Director, Cultural Pursuits Mary Ellen Hudgins, Community Volunteer Shirish Mulherkar, Co-Founder and President, Seattle JazzED Bob Roseth, Director of News and Information, University of Washington David Zapolsky, Founding Sponsor, Seattle JazzED; VP Litigation & Regulatory, Amazon.com Arts in Motion Cornish College for the Arts Earshot Jazz KPLU Northwest African American Museum Rainier Scholars Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club Rainier Valley Cultural Center Seattle Music Partners Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras SEED (Southeast Effective Development) YMCA Return to top ^ REGISTER NOW for the Jazz Combo Workshop! Upcoming Performances: 2/17 Winter Concert 3/4 & 3/18 The Royal Room 4/1 The Royal Room 4/12 Seattle Art Museum 5/20 The Royal Room Concert details here » Participate » Calendar » Donate »