Statements
Mission
Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble (NYJE) was created to provide a high-level educational/performance experience in a jazz big band for students, grades 8-12, in the Greater Nashville community. An important goal of NYJE is to fill a community need for jazz education/performance for young people, especially those who do not have access to such an experience.
Another goal of NYJE is to foster appreciation and support for jazz music in our community. By performing concerts alongside regional or national jazz artists, students present to our community an authentic experience in jazz, America's truly original art form.
Background
The Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble was created in 2019 by Richard Ripani, a music educator in the Nashville, TN area. Dr. Ripani is currently the director of the Hume-Fogg Academic High School Jazz Bands, having previously held this position with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN. In addition, Dr. Ripani has been selected to director regional jazz honor bands throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina for many years. In early 2019, Ripani decided that the Nashville area needed a regional jazz band for youths, many of whom did not have such an opportunity at their school. Other regions, such as the Knoxville, TN area, have long had such a group that made a significant impact in their community. So, this organization is in its initial building stage. However, the NYJE has been approved by the IRS as an official 501(c)(3), and the Board of Directors is currently in a fundraising campaign. Information on the Hume-Fogg Silver Jazz Band, Dr. Richard Ripani, director The Hume-Fogg Silver Jazz Band is perhaps the most decorated jazz band in the state of Tennessee. In 2010 and 2015 the group was selected to perform at the Tennessee Music Educator Association conference, and again for the year 2019 the band was selected for this honor. In 2010 and 2012 the group auditioned and was awarded a spot at the Savannah Music Festival's High School Jazz Competition. That event committee selects only the top twelve high school jazz bands in the USA to perform and compete. In 2011, the Hume-Fogg Silver Jazz Band entered the University of Louisville Jazz Fest and high school jazz band competition. The band won top honors, while scoring perfect scores of "100" from each of the three judges, and was awarded by being asked to perform a special evening concert. The Hume-Fogg Jazz bands also won the top honor at this same event in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Impact
Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble has an ever-increasing impact as we gain visibility in the Nashville area.
• NYJE offers to Nashville's young people an opportunity to learn about & perform a style of music that might not be available to them otherwise.
• NYJE gives students a place to go where they can have pride in their work and be part of an organization
• We advance cultural growth and diversity in our schools
• We perform at fundraisers for community non-profit organizations, such as Nashville Jazz Workshop, FiftyForward, and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
• Our performances increase musical diversity in our community, while offering uniquely American music and increasing community pride
• NYJE employs many under-utilized artists from our area as onsite music education experts and performers
• We offer free performances at many area venues, such as Belmont U., MTSU, Vanderbilt U., and others
Student membership in our organization has grown significantly. In 2022-2023 we had 56 students engaged in NYJE, with 2 jazz big bands and 3 jazz combos. All groups rehearse on Sunday afternoons in Nashville from Sept. through May. In addition to our staff, jazz musicians/educators visit our rehearsals regularly to offer jazz training.
Jazz Band Jumpstart: This is a community outreach program in which NYJE staff visits schools to help build/improve jazz bands. Each school receives 14 hours of onsite training & curricular help from our staff. This highly successful program has already worked with jazz bands at Nashville School of the Arts, Croft MS, Merrol Hyde Magnet, Isaac Litton MS, Centennial HS, Westmoreland MS, & others.
Needs
Financial support to fund student needs-based scholarships: $2,000.
Printing and copying services: $1500
Sheet music for band to perform: $2000
Financial support for hiring guest artists/clinicians $2500
Jazz Band Jumpstart community outreach program: $5000
CEO Statement
An organization of this type has been needed for many years in Nashville. Many large cities have a community-based jazz band available for young people, and the time is right for Nashville to have its own, dedicated educational and performing group of this sort. The Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble offers to our community big band jazz education at the very highest level to students grades 8-12.
Some public and private high schools offer a jazz program, but in almost all cases these are presented to the students on a very limited basis, and as basically an afterthought. By offering the NYJE, an organization that is dedicated to this music with a director who is respected throughout the southeastern USA, we hope to bring jazz education and performance to the forefront of our community.
Board Chair Statement
An organization of this type has been needed for many years in Nashville. Many large cities have a community-based jazz band available for young people, and the time is right for Nashville to have its own, dedicated educational and performing group of this sort. The Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble offers to our community big band jazz education at the very highest level to students grades 8-12.
Some public and private high schools offer a jazz program, but in almost all cases these are presented to the students on a very limited basis, and as basically an afterthought. By offering the NYJE, an organization that is dedicated to this music with a director who is respected throughout the southeastern USA, we hope to bring jazz education and performance to the forefront of our community.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Music |
| Secondary Category: | - |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Coffee |
