Seattle JazzED to Receive $15,000 Louis Armstrong Education Grant

We’re thrilled to announce that Seattle JazzED has been awarded a $15,000 grant from The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.  

This funding will support our programs for the 2025–26 school year and our mission to bridge the music education opportunity gap for youth across King County. 

With this support, we’ll engage more than 300 students in grades 4–12 through a comprehensive jazz curriculum spanning beginner, intermediate, and advanced pathways. Students will explore jazz history and technique, build their creativity, and celebrate the legacy of Louis Armstrong in a week-long tribute by learning about his musical stylings and performing some of his works.  

All of Seattle JazzED instruction is rooted in accessibility: financial aid, free loaner instrument program, multiple teachers in the classroom, and resources are provided to ensure every young musician has the chance to play.  

Thank you to The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation for investing in our teaching artists and the next generation of musicians.  

Bring Music to the Streets: Seattle JazzED's Second Line Project

Ready to bring the funk to the streets of Seattle this summer? This is your invitation to join JazzED’s Second Line Project and march loud and proud with us at the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade!  

What is a Second Line? 

Second lines are deeply rooted in Black American culture, specifically within the African American communities in New Orleans. A traditional second line has two parts. The first line is made up of a grand marshal or parade leader, the band, and whoever is being honored. The second line are the people who fall behind them, dancing and playing with joyful abandon. 

Second line parades originally started as funeral processions to burial sites to honor the dead among the African American community. 

Over time, second lines became full-blown community celebrations. They are organized to celebrate different kinds of events such as weddings, memorials, and birthdays. At its core, these gatherings are about connection and community. 

This tradition represents the soul of jazz by honoring the past, celebrating the present, and being a space where everyone is invited to participate.  

Why This Matters for Seattle JazzED 

The second line is a vibrant expression of jazz. Its music is improvisational, collaborative, and rooted in community participation. 

Photo by Jocelyn RC (Lightnotes.photography)

Our Second Line Project brings this rich cultural tradition to Seattle with our own unique twist. It’s a chance for students to bring music into the streets. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to be part of something powerful and fun!  

And unlike traditional marching bands, we welcome all instruments. Even those not typically found in jazz. 

Play cello? We’ll rig it with a strap.  

Play piano? You can march with a melodica.  

We’re here to help students be part of something bigger.

Join our Second Line Project!

Bring a friend, your energy, and your whole self to this fast-paced, riff-based, loud and proud camp! You’ll rehearse with professional teaching artists and perform at the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade – one of Seattle’s biggest summer events!  

Teacher Jerome Smith leading JazzED Second Line at Lake Union. Photo by Jocelyn RC (Lightnotes.photography)

CAMP DATES

Monday, July 21 - Friday, July 25
9 AM - 1 PM, Daily
Seattle JazzED, 380 Boren Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade
Saturday, July 26
Time and Address TBA

Why We're Pausing This Summer

Seattle JazzED is built on resilience—on the power of community, creativity, and music to carry us through change. We’re sharing an important update about our summer programs, and the intentional steps we’re taking to strengthen our future. 

After careful consideration and deep reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause our summer programming this year—apart from our Second Line Camp, which will continue as planned. 

We’re taking this pause now so that we can move forward stronger—building programs that are sustainable, rooted in community, and built to last. 

Over the past two years, Seattle JazzED has gone through significant internal changes. We’ve welcomed new leadership, adjusted how our team works together, and restructured to better align with our financial reality and the direction we’re headed. 

At the same time, we’ve been navigating the same headwinds affecting many nonprofits: increased demand for financial assistance, shifting philanthropic priorities from donors, and the continued impact of inflation and economic uncertainty on families and organizations alike.  

Even through all this change, one thing has remained steady: our commitment to our teaching artists, students, families, and supporters. 

But the numbers tell a hard truth. We’ve seen a steady decline in tuition revenue. As costs rise and financial assistance requests increase, the gap between revenue and program expenses has become unsustainable. Our fundraising efforts alone can no longer maintain the level of support and quality programming that we strive to provide. 

Rather than risk last-minute disruptions during the school year, we’re choosing to pause during the summer so that we can refocus. Our team will be using this time to strengthen our financial model, refine our program offerings, and expand outreach to increase enrollment this fall.  

At the heart of this decision is our commitment to the long-term health of Seattle JazzED. We are dedicated to ensuring that our programs are not only sustainable but also accessible to all families, no matter their circumstances.  

By taking this step now, we’re making space to do the thoughtful, behind-the-scenes work that will ensure Seattle JazzED remains a thriving home for youth, music, and creativity for years to come. 

For any questions, please reach out to our Executive Director at liz@seattlejazzed.org.