Our Story

Andrew Johnston launched Jazz Empowers in 2014 with a founding board of directors which comprised of diverse skill sets and a common passionate for music education.  Over the next year, Jazz Empowers developed an innovative curriculum that focused on performing jazz standards, music education, ear training and improvisation. In the 2015-2016 school year Jazz Empowers raised $10,000 in capital to launch a pilot program in two underserved schools in Nashville. This program served 30 students who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to learn music.  

Building off the success of the pilot program, Jazz Empowers launched its programming full scale for the 2016-2017 school year.  Since then Jazz Empowers has continued to grow and now currently serves 800 students across the country and has provided over 150 instruments to students.   In 2017 Jazz Empowers launched its Band Director Support Program which provides instruments, resources, and coaching to band directors as they start and build jazz programs at their schools.  

On August 1st, 2018 Jazz Empowers plans to launch its Online Support Site which be an online hub for students and instructors to learn jazz.