Last Thursday, April 14th, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz visited the School of the Arts for a spectacular “informance” concentrating on the various elements of jazz. CCSD was one of only five school districts in the nation selected for this tremendous opportunity. The group consisted of Dayna Stephens, acclaimed saxophonist, Lisa Henry, a Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition winner, and seven talented students from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX.

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz aims to provide free jazz education to students around the country. The Institute “preserves, perpetuates and expands jazz as a global art form,” hoping to provide college-level instruction to young talents. Through the Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Initiative, audiences in public schools are given the opportunity to learn to “use jazz as the medium to encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and respect for one’s own and others’ cultural heritage” from their peers in the institute. It was an inspirational experience for all who attended!