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Pinecrest Gardens has been approved for a $40,000 Grant for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts to support two different music mentoring initiatives, The She Jazz Project and Gen Next Jam. These two projects will provide extraordinary opportunities for young jazz musicians working with top international jazz artists. The She Jazz Project and Gen-Next Jam are just two projects among 1,125 projects across America totaling more than $26.6 million that were selected during this second round of Grants for Arts Projects fiscal year 2022 funding.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts and cultural organizations throughout the nation with these grants, including Pinecrest Gardens, providing opportunities for all of us to live artful lives,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD.
“The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities, and to our local economies. The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a shared new normal informed by our examined experience.”
Recognizing a gender disparity in jazz, Pinecrest Gardens, South Florida’s Cultural Arts Park, will continue the nation’s first She Jazz Project this fall following a success summer program launch. The unique mentorship program will encompass a diverse group of young female jazz musicians, ages 14-20, from across South Florida, who will rehearse together once a week (Sundays 4-7pm), study and perform, side-by-side, with renowned female mentor artists.
“Since its origins, jazz has been grossly underrepresented by women,” says Pinecrest Gardens’ Executive Director Alana Perez, who conceived of the idea for the She Jazz Project. “Through this innovative program, our goal is to help bridge the gender gap in jazz and create a transformative experience for emerging female artists. The She Jazz Project is a safe, welcoming space for young women (identifying, transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming players) of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds to discover their voice and be heard through the power of female mentorship.”
The goal: Create a platform to encourage local, young women to pursue meaningful experiences in jazz.
This unique mentorship program, began in September of 2021 and with an application process due by August 30th, 2021. This program will be FREE to everyone accepted.
THE SHE JAZZ PROJECT
Who will be the lead mentor in the She Jazz Project?
The She Jazz Project will bring award winning jazz artists throughout the school year to coach, conduct and perform with these talented young girls. Joining these special artists will be internationally recognized jazz vocalist and Chair of Jazz Vocal Studies at FIU, Lisanne Lyons.
Where will the She Jazz Project Activities Take Place?
Most project activity will take place at Pinecrest Gardens; in the 530-seat Banyan Bowl and surrounding buildings. Additional community performances will take place in smaller venues, both traditional and alternative.
What Are the Primary Activities of the She Jazz Project?
· Focus on PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE
· Development of broad guideline curriculum that commences in September 2021
· Weekly coaching, rehearsals: full, sectionals, ensembles
· Formation of several small performance ensembles
· Compose/premiere new works with ensembles is one of our objectives
· A performance at Pinecrest Gardens (COVID-19 county/state guidelines permitting)
· Quarterly performance in smaller, community settings (COVID-19 guidelines permitting)
· Annual concert recording (minimum, single record; potential multiple records)
· Lectures/demos/coaching/performances by visiting female mentor artists to the South Motors Jazz Series
· Assistance with scholarship research/cultivation among involved institutions and future partners
Continuation of She Jazz with multi-performances and mentoring sessions throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
GEN-NEXT JAM
GenNext Jam
In 2015, the South Motors Jazz series expanded to include GenNext Jam bringing an exceptional caliber of internationally celebrated artists to jam with and mentor a core group of youth participating in the Jazz Magnet Program at Miami-Dade County’s signature school of the arts – New World High School. These unique mentorships allow aspiring musicians from South Florida to learn directly from and play alongside Jazz greats.
Why Pinecrest Gardens?
At Pinecrest Gardens, jazz programming is the centerpiece of performing arts activity. The celebrated 7-part series Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens celebrates its 13th anniversary in the 2022-2023 season. Now, it is the desire of the Village of Pinecrest’s leadership and Pinecrest Gardens staff to launch a jazz mentorship program to aid local female musicians explore and immerse in jazz genres as they grow as performers, while continuing their ongoing mentorship program with gifted jazz students from the New World High School advanced jazz program.
