Meet Our New Program Director - Courtney D. Clark

Seattle JazzED is proud to announce the appointment of Courtney D. Clark as its new Program Director, effective February 9, 2026.

Clark is a visionary arts executive, strategist, and artist-educator with extensive experience leading transformative programs at the intersection of music performance, arts education, and community engagement. She is a lifelong advocate for accessible and equitable arts education, with a career dedicated to building systems, programs, and pathways that ensure all students — especially Black and historically underserved youth — can fully participate in the arts.

Most recently, Clark served as Director of Engagement at the University of Washington School of Drama, where she provided strategic leadership across marketing, communications, donor and patron engagement, and public-facing initiatives. Previously, she held senior education and community engagement roles with Arizona Opera and Seattle Opera, where she expanded K–12 arts learning access, developed culturally responsive curriculum, and built statewide partnerships with educators and schools.

A classically trained singer with professional performance experience in the United States and abroad, Clark brings a dual perspective as both artist and administrator, bridging vision with execution and policy with practice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Morris Brown College, a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance from Middle Tennessee State University, and K–12 music teacher licensure from Belmont University. She is certified to teach vocal and general music in Tennessee, Georgia, and Washington State and holds Orff-Schulwerk Level I and II certification.

Clark’s leadership extends beyond her professional roles through service on local and statewide arts education and equity initiatives. She is currently serving her second fiscal year as Board President of ArtsEd Washington, advocating for equitable access to arts education across the state.

Her work is guided by a clear purpose:

“To use music, arts education, arts advocacy, and leadership to illuminate the path for others, especially Black and underrepresented voices, to be seen, heard, and celebrated, creating spaces where excellence is cultivated, talent is nurtured, and legacy lives on through art, community, and cultural connection.”

As Program Director, Clark will lead the vision, development, and implementation of Seattle JazzED’s programs, advancing the organization’s commitment to access, excellence, and community-centered music education while honoring its deep roots in community, creativity, and joy.

About Seattle JazzED

Seattle JazzED is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering every young person with exceptional music education. Through jazz education that liberates and inspires, JazzED increases access in the music room, celebrates student expression, and builds lasting connections rooted in community.

The organization provides year-round programming for students of all ages and skill levels, including in-school partnerships, after-school ensembles, early childhood classes, mentorship opportunities, and performance-based learning experiences that center creativity, collaboration, and artistic excellence.

A cornerstone of JazzED’s annual programming is its dynamic summer camp season, offering immersive jazz experiences for students across the region. Summer enrollment is currently open, with sliding-scale tuition, flexible payment options, and full waivers available to ensure that cost is never a barrier to participation.

By fostering belonging through music and honoring the rich jazz tradition of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle JazzED equips young musicians with the artistic, academic, and life skills cultivated through jazz.

For more information about programs or to enroll in summer offerings, contact us!

How to Choose the Right Tuition Level for Your Family

One of the first things families often notice when registering for a class is our sliding scale tuition model. And one of the first questions we hear is: “What am I supposed to choose?” 

Sliding scale tuition is meant to remove barriers, not create confusion. In this post, we’re here to explain why sliding scale matters to us, and how we encourage families to choose a tuition level that truly works for their real life. 

Back in August 2025, we shared an article that explains why sliding scale tuition matters. If you’d like to read it, click here. The short version is simple: cost should never be the reason a student can’t pick up an instrument and play music.  

Choosing a tuition level isn’t just about income 

Sliding scale tuition has been a part of Seattle JazzED from the very beginning. Families’ circumstances look different, and those circumstances can’t be captured by a single number or income bracket. 

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that tuition choice should be based only on household income. But we know life is more complex than that. 

You might be: 

• Managing both childcare and eldercare expenses

• Paying off debt or student loans 

• Saving for retirement 

• Building an emergency fund 

• Managing medical expenses 

• Navigating rising rent and grocery costs

• Experiencing job changes or financial uncertainty 

So, when we say, “choose what works for your family,” we mean your whole family and your whole life. 

What we want families to do 

We want families to: 

• Know whatever you can pay is meaningful in supporting our community 

• Choose a tuition level that feels sustainable 

• Feel confident, not guilty, about their choice 

• Understand that there is no “wrong” level 

Standard tuition covers the cost of running our programs, including paying fair wages to our teaching artists. If paying standard tuition feels doable for your family right now, that support helps make our programs possible for others. The tuition levels above standard tuition are for families who want and are able to contribute more, helping offset costs for families who can't. 

Above all else, the most important thing is that your student gets to participate. 

What if you can’t pay anything right now? 

Families can choose a level that works for them, including paying less than standard. Payment plans are also available to help spread costs over the season.  

If paying tuition isn’t possible at this time, families can also request a no-tuition code during registration; no explanations are required. We trust you to know what your family needs. 

There are no separate programs and no differences in how students are treated. Every student receives the same high-quality instruction, care, and opportunity. 

If you can’t pay tuition right now, there are still ways to support JazzED.  

Some families ask how they can support JazzED during seasons when tuition isn’t possible. Here are a few meaningful ways: 

• Spread the word. Share our programs with friends, neighbors, teachers, band directors, or other families who might be looking for music opportunities. 

• Show up when you can. Attending performances, jamborees, or community events helps build a supportive environment for students. 

• Share your experience. A kind word, testimonial, or referral goes a long way in helping other families feel confident about joining. 

These forms of support help our community grow and matter just as much as financial contributions. 

All that said, choose the level that feels right to you right now. Life changes, and your choice can change too. 

We’re grateful you’re considering Seattle JazzED, and we’re excited to make music with your student. 

Changes to Tuition: Sales Tax Requirement Begins Winter 2026

Starting with Winter 2026 programs, Seattle JazzED will be required to charge sales tax on tuition, following a new Washington State law (ESSB 5814) that took effect on October 1. 

ESSB 5814 changes the state’s tax code to include youth arts education like music, theater, and dance, in the definition of “live presentations.” As a result, youth arts organizations across Washington state are now required to collect retail sales tax on class tuition. For JazzED families, this means sales tax will be applied to any tuition amount up to our standard tuition rate. 

As an organization, we recognize that this new law places an additional financial burden on families seeking arts education opportunities for their children, making access to music education more challenging for some. 

That’s why JazzED remains deeply committed to keeping our pay-what-you-can tuition model in place. This model ensures that no student is turned away due to cost. We hope families who can pay above the standard tuition, and community members who are able to make a contribution, will consider doing so to ensure no student is ever turned away due to cost.  

Affordability and access are at the heart of everything we do. We want families to know that while this new law affects how we process tuition, it doesn’t change our mission. Every young person who wants to play music at JazzED will still have that opportunity.

Liz Riggs Meder, Executive Director 

We will continue to work alongside arts advocacy organizations across Washington to ensure our legislators understand how such budget decisions impact access to the arts. 

Seattle JazzED remains steadfast in our mission: to make high-quality, joyful, and equitable music education available to every student who walks through our doors.