6th & Jazz: 15,000+ Students Visit Dr. Phillips Center to Sing, Dance and Learn
Back for its ninth year, Dr. Phillips Center hosted more than 15,000 middle school students for the annual 6th and Jazz educational program. Students from Orange and Osceola County Public Schools gathered at the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater for an immersive 55-minute show.
A Closer Look at 6th & Jazz
Students were taken on a journey of high-energy music, improvisation, audience interaction and dance. The middle-schoolers were introduced to the genre's different styles through recordings and live renditions of compositions by jazz legends Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie.
“To hear students say they want to learn how to play an instrument and they like jazz—that’s a major win,” said Ryan Simpson, Director of Education at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. “6th and Jazz has become one of our signature education programs and it truly showcases how music positively impacts children’s development and curiosity.”
Fostering Creativity: Benefits of Hands-On Music Education
The program was developed and presented in collaboration with writer and musician Nolan Williams Jr. and NEWorks Productions, with live music performed by The Jazz Orchestra inside Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center. Williams joined the team to help create an educational program where students can learn and be immersed outside the classroom. In the last nine years, the 6th and Jazz program has reached over 220,000 students
"To see the impact Dr. Phillips Center is making in the community specifically with youth and exposing them to rich culture at a young age is incredibly inspiring," said Greg Dryden, Fifth Third Bank’s Orlando city president. “6th and Jazz closely aligns with Fifth Third Bank's commitment to building strong and sustainable communities through financial education and access. We are honored to partner with Dr. Phillips Center to help create a vibrant, thriving place for the next generation and beyond.”
This year’s program was generously supported by AdventHealth, Chick-fil-A, Greater Orlando Area, Experience Kissimmee, Fifth Third Bank, McGriff Insurance, Jacarlene Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Greta C. & Sean M. Stephens Family and the Yuska Family.
Be sure to check out more work by Nolan Williams Jr. on Facebook and Instagram and learn more about NEWorks Productions.
More Music Education Initiatives at AdventHealth School of the Arts
6th & Jazz is one of many programs we host to expose students of all ages to the arts. Staying true to our vision, Arts For Every Life®, we provide eye-opening, educational experiences to people from all backgrounds through community outreach, theater industry experience and classes & camps.
In addition to 6th & Jazz, our community outreach initiatives include two free five-day artist residencies for young adults (Pilobolus @ Play and Spoken Word), The Second City residency for Students on the Autism Spectrum, the Disney Musicals in Schools program for Orange, Osceola and Seminole county public elementary schools and the Project WoW collaborative education initiative to integrate science and arts across the existing preschool curriculum.
We're all about helping young artists find ways to pursue their passions. Through our AdventHealth School of the Arts, students of all ages and skill levels can explore various performing arts classes or discover new passions and sharpen skills during our summer camps.
Young artists can also gain firsthand theater industry experience by joining one of our performing arts groups and pre-professional programs or auditioning for one of our Youth & Pre-Professional Productions.
Educational programs are made possible through generous support. The Spoken Word residencies are part of the Lifting Voices series supported by TD Bank and Project WoW is supported by PNC and AdventHealth.
Visit our website to learn more about the Dr. Phillips Center education initiatives.