Dr. Phillips Center Brings Jazz Education to More Than 15,000 Students in Collaboration with NEWorks Productions
Weeklong program introduces sixth grade students to jazz history through live performances happening March 23-27
Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts marks a decade of jazz education, welcoming more than 15,000 students from Orange and Osceola County Public Schools to attend the annual 6th & Jazz program, an immersive 55-minute show, from March 23-27 inside Walt Disney Theater. Over the past decade the program has engaged more than 242,000 students.
Created in collaboration with Nolan Williams Jr. and NEWorks Productions, the program highlights the history of jazz and its influence on modern music. Through recordings and live renditions, sixth grade students learn about jazz legends Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie.
“6th & Jazz has grown into one of our most impactful programs,” said Ryan Simpson, director of education at Dr. Phillips Center. “Music plays a fundamental role in a child’s development and jazz offers a powerful way for them to connect with its rich history and culture. By welcoming schools into the arts center, we create learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.”
Through techniques on a live stage, Nolan Williams Jr. leads students on a musical journey filled with tunes, improvisation, interaction and dancing. The program features local musicians, vocalists and dancers.
“From the moment students walk into the theater, they’re invited to be part of the music-making process,” says Nolan Williams Jr., creative director of 6th & Jazz. “This program was designed to invite them to explore the origins of jazz in a way that is unique.”
As part of Dr. Phillips Center’s vision of Arts for Every Life®, these initiatives provide eye-opening experiences through community outreach, industry experience, classes and camps.
“Seeing the impact Dr. Phillips Center is making in our community – especially through programs that introduce young people to rich culture and the arts at an early age – is truly inspiring,” said Greg Dryden, Fifth Third Bank’s Orlando city president. “6th & Jazz is a powerful example of how cultural access and education can help shape confident, creative futures. The program strongly aligns with Fifth Third Bank’s commitment to building strong, sustainable communities through education, access and opportunity. We are proud to partner with Dr. Phillips Center to help cultivate a vibrant, thriving community for the next generation and beyond.”
Generous support for this program is made possible by Experience Kissimmee, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Division of Arts & Culture and National Endowment for the Arts.