Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is a non-profit music education-oriented organization co-founded in 1986 by the family of the late American jazz musician Thelonious Monk, opera singer Maria Fisher and Thomas R. Carter, its current president.
The Institute has held its International Jazz Competition since 1987 and organized jazz education programs in public schools throughout the United States and around the world, produced jazz events during the 1993 and 1997 Inaugural celebrations.
College Program
One of the Institute's earliest goals was to create a unique college-level jazz program where the masters of jazz could pass on their expertise to the next generation of jazz musicians the way Thelonious Monk had done in his Manhattan apartment throughout the '50s and '60s. In September 1995, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance was launched and the first class of seven students began their intensive training with some of the world's greatest musicians.
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance is a tuition-free two-year program that accepts one ensemble of musicians for each class. Internationally acclaimed trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serves as Artistic Director. All of the students receive full scholarships, as well as stipends to cover their monthly living expenses. The students study both individually and as a small group, receiving personal mentoring, ensemble coaching, and lectures on the jazz tradition. They are also encouraged to experiment in expanding jazz in new directions through their compositions and performances. The institute is currently located at Loyola University New Orleans.
The current class of 2011 is an eclectic group of amazing musicians. Members[1][2] include trumpeter Billy Buss (Berkeley, California); bassist Hogyu Hwang (Seoul, South Korea); pianist Victor Gould (Simi Valley, CA); alto saxophonist Godwin Louis (Bridgeport, Connecticut); Tenor Saxophonist Matt Marantz (Dallas, Texas); and drummer Nick Falk (Cape Elizabeth, Maine).
Competitions
Since 1987, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has presented the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. More than $60,000 in scholarships and prizes are awarded to musicians and composers each year. The competition focuses on a different instrument every year and features an all-star panel of judges. Branford Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Quincy Jones, and Diana Krall have all served as judges at past competitions.
The competition is internationally recognized a significant event for identifying and launching the careers of young aspiring jazz artists, such as Joshua Redman, winner of the 1991 saxophone competition, Marcus Roberts, winner of the 1987 piano competition, Ryan Kisor, winner of the 1990 trumpet competition, and Joey DeFrancesco, a finalist in the 1987 piano competition. The 1993 piano competition winner, Jacky Terrasson, signed with Blue Note Records. The 1998 vocals competition produced: the late Teri Thornton, winner of the competition who signed with Verve Records; second place winner Jane Monheit who signed with Columbia; semifinalist Tierney Sutton who signed with Telarc; and third-place winner Roberta Gambarini, whose American debut album, "Easy to Love", was nominated for a 2007 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female. Aaron Parks placed third in the piano competition of 2006 and was subsequently signed by Blue Note Records.Dozens of other semifinalists have forged successful careers as jazz performers and educators.[3]
Thomas R. Carter
Carter has served as producer of the "Jazz at The White House" gala concert which was taped for a PBS television special. In 1995, he also sponsored the creation of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, now at Loyola University New Orleans[4]. He also initiated and served as executive producer of "A Celebration of America's Music," a one-hour ABC television special that was broadcast in 1996 and became the first jazz television special to air on network television in more than 25 years. In 1997, Carter served as executive producer for the 2nd annual television special, also broadcast on ABC. Carter has also served at the White House Conference for Culture and Diplomacy.[5]
References
- ^ Class of 2011 Myspace page
- ^ Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
- ^ Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
- ^ Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at Loyola University's College of Music and Fine Arts
- ^ White House Conference on Culture and Diplomacy 11/28/2000