A Soundtrack for Success and a Farewell

On April 4, 2024, Seattle JazzED hosted their annual Soundtrack for the Future Gala, transforming the Amazon Meeting Center into a vibrant celebration of music and community. This annual event benefits JazzED’s work to foster lifelong music-makers through accessible, exceptional jazz education.  

Thanks to donors within our community who contributed to a matching fund, along with the generosity of those who donated during the gala, we reached approximately $350,063 in contributions. The community’s support is essential to JazzED’s ability to reach as many students as possible through our programs and partnerships.  

Amidst conversations and jazz tunes from Seattle JazzED-ucators, guests dined on southern cuisine prepared by Old Ballard Catering Company and desserts by Li Liath Bakery.  

Guiding the evening with charm and wit, our emcee, Riley Mulherkar, set the stage for a memorable night. The program kicked off with a feature and performance of “Change is Gonna Come” by members from the Girls Ellington Project, accompanied by a backing band filled with community artists including Wayne Horvitz, Ayesha Brooks, D’vonne Lewis, Owuor Arunga, Kate Olson, Haley Freedlund, Jeremy Lightfoot, and Daren Loucas.

Following the performance, Shirish Mulherkar, Seattle JazzED’s co-founder, took the mic to honor Laurie de Koch, Seattle JazzED’s co-founder and exiting executive director for the last 15 years and welcomed her on stage.  

After a standing ovation, Laurie shared a few words about her gratitude to our donors, board, families, students, and staff.  

“Transitions can be hard. But transitions are really the substance of Seattle JazzED…Our capacity to manage transitions is really what makes JazzED successful. Under the direction of Nicole Harvey as our interim executive director, I know that JazzED will continue to do the beautiful work that JazzED does.  

And most of all, I want to thank 15 years’ worth of JazzED students for teaching me the most valuable lesson: Brave, not perfect. I’m going to carry it with me in my next transition and I hope you carry that with you all as well.” 

With Laurie’s announcement of stepping away from the organization, the room brimmed with gratitude for her unwavering dedication to music education.   

The night of celebration continued with a performance of “Three Little Birds” by Beacon Hill International Schools ‘ukulele class. And in true community fashion, musical magic continued when every person in the room picked up a kazoo, joining in a full-group musical moment led by Riley. Together, they performed a spirited rendition of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” culminating in an evening filled with music, dance, and joy!  

For a glimpse into the festivities, click below to see photos of the 2024 Soundtrack for the Future, documented by Emazing Photography.  

Femme Jazz Day with the Girls Ellington Project

Femme Jazz Day, an annual initiative aimed at inspiring musicians at every level, welcomed female, queer, trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive musicians for an evening of learning, playing, and collaborating.

On Tuesday, March 12, the students and teachers of Seattle JazzED’s Girls Ellington Project orchestrated an evening for young femme musicians to engage in music-making that fosters creativity, courage, and camaraderie.

As the event unfolded, a mix of familiar and new faces filled the space. They delved into Bb-Jam Blues, Little Sunflower, and Caravan, guided by our Girls Ellington educators who led with expertise and enthusiasm.

At 7:30, the doors opened to families and friends who were invited back for a short performance from the group. The room buzzed with the infectious energy of our performers. As the musicians took their solos, joy and the spirit of community further filled the room.

Reflecting on the experience, Addy T., a 6th grader, shared her thoughts about the evening:

“I was really nervous! But it was fun. It was fun to play with other femme musicians because my jazz band has less than half femme musicians. I really liked when they said, ‘Be brave, not perfect’ because I feel like a lot of people need to hear that about playing solos or playing in general.”

Seattle JazzED began the journey towards gender parity in jazz education in 2013. Recognizing the underrepresentation of female-identifying and gender diverse musicians in traditional big bands, the inaugural Girls Jazz Day launched with the creation of the Girls Ellington Project happening soon after.

Femme Jazz Day continues to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment where musicians of all backgrounds can come together to celebrate the joy of jazz music.

Femme jazz Day musicians practicing ‘Caravan” guided by Girls Ellington Educator, Marissa Kall.

Are you looking to play with femme musicians? We’re hosting a Femme Jazz Summer Camp from Monday, July 15 - Friday, July 19, 2024. Click below for more information and to register!

As of July 2024, Girls Ellington Project has been renamed Femme Ellington Project. For more information on the name change, click here.