Trombone Shorty Academy Takes Residence At Jazz & Heritage Center
NEW ORLEANS – The Trombone Shorty Academy, a free music education program of the Trombone Shorty Foundation, is now in residence at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, the education facility owned by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation – the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell.
Currently in its fifth year, the Trombone Shorty Academy perpetuates the musical heritage of New Orleans by teaching local high school students homegrown New Orleans music – from brass band and traditional jazz to more modern funk and rhythm & blues styles, all of which play an integral role in the richness and depth of New Orleans’ musical legacy.
The Trombone Shorty Academy holds classes on Monday evenings at the Jazz & Heritage Center, which is located in New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood and also is the first permanent home of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s main music education program, the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music.
“We have come home,” says foundation founder and namesake Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, who is a graduate of the Heritage School. “Tremé has always been the heart and soul of our city’s music. It’s where I grew up and learned to play. I am so honored to be working with the Jazz & Heritage Foundation here in my neighborhood.”
The Trombone Shorty Academy will increase the educational offerings at the two-year-old Jazz & Heritage Center, helping to expand an ever-growing roster of cultural enrichment and education programs held there.
The Trombone Shorty Academy is open to high school students with a sincere interest in broadening their musical horizons are encouraged to join.
The first class of the Spring 2017 semester will be Monday, Jan. 23.
No application is necessary. Tryouts, which are very casual, will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Classes will continue every Monday night, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., for the remainder of the school year, culminating with a live performance with Trombone Shorty at Shorty Fest, the foundation’s annual fundraiser on May 4 at the House of Blues (during Jazz Fest).
Academy students receive instruction from accomplished and respected New Orleans musicians, all of whom started out playing in their schools’ marching bands. Teachers include Erion Williams and Julian Gosin from the Soul Rebels; Jenard Andrews from the New Breed Brass Band; and Edward Lee, the leader of MainLine.
Along with Trombone Shorty, they are helping to nurture the future of the New Orleans’ musical culture.
“We have watched Trombone Shorty start out on the neighborhood streets and grow into the headliner of our festival,” says New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Executive Director Don Marshall. “We are honored to host his program at our facility and to educate what will certainly become the next generation of Jazz Fest performers.”
The Trombone Shorty Foundation is the nonprofit started by musician Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews. Its mission is to perpetuate the musical heritage of New Orleans through music education, instruction, mentorship and performance to prepare young, underserved musicians for success in music and in life.
