Celebrating 15 Years of Seattle JazzED
/On March 6, 2025, the Seattle JazzED community came together for Soundtrack for the Future, our 15th anniversary gala that transformed the Amazon Meeting Center into a vibrant hub of music and community. This annual event benefits Seattle JazzED’s work to foster lifelong music-makers through accessible, exceptional jazz education.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the JazzED community, including donors who contributed before the gala and those who gave throughout the evening, we raised $262,805. Your support is what makes our mission possible, ensuring that every young person who wants to make music has access to high-quality, inclusive, and enriching music education.
Amidst lively conversations and the energetic sounds of Alex Dugdale’s Deca-Dance, guests enjoyed a spread of Cajun cuisine catered by Old Ballard Catering Company, topped off with desserts from La Liath Bakery.
Our emcee, Trae Holiday, guided us through the evening with energy and warmth. Jazz Lab students kicked off the program with a soulful performance of “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” that had heads nodding and the crowd clapping.
A special moment of the evening was welcoming our new executive director, Liz Riggs Meder. In her speech, Liz reflected on her personal journey with music education and the vital role it plays in young people’s lives.
“What we do is truly inspiring. And it has me reflecting on my own musical upbringing. For you see, I am a product of music education. While my paid professions have spanned engineering, mountain guiding and education, who I am was forged by my experiences in the band room...
Giving children a joyful space to creatively express themselves? That is just as essential as literacy or numeracy. Every student has a right to that. Every child should have access to high-quality, inclusive, and enriching music education, no matter the school they attend or their ability to pay. And I believe that JazzED and our mission rooted in the resilient values of jazz can make this happen. ”
Following Liz’s speech, Seattle JazzED alum Jahnvi Madan took the stage for a performance of “Flowers No One Has Ever Seen,” a reminder of the power of music to inspire and connect.
The night closed with a community music-making moment led by Alex Dugdale and Deca-Dance. As the band played the Latin jazz classic “Manteca,” guests shook maracas and filled the room with movement and celebration.
