Jazz Music is beloved by the whole world, and Jazz Education Network (JEN) serves the global community with this sentiment front of mind. It has been my sincere honor to lead JEN as its Board President over the past two years. As I reflect on my time in the role, here are five takeaways (in no particular order) I’d like to share:

· The Jazz Community loves the Crescent City – This is no surprise. Jazz Education Network has presented some of its most successful conferences in New Orleans, with the recent 2024 Conference being the largest in the past 15 years, with nearly 4,000 attendees. Laissez le bon temps rouler!

· It takes a jazz village to be successful – Due to the tireless work and dedication of JEN’s dynamic staff, team of volunteers, members, sponsors/donors, and talented Board of Directors, we collectively moved the needle to transition out of the challenges of the pandemic, into the next chapter of the organization’s story, which includes the start of the Jazz Education Foundation.

· Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is in the DNA and roots of jazz music, and there is forward momentum to increase equitable representation in Jazz Education. This includes important initiatives at HBCU’s across the country, growing support for African American educators and students in all schools/institutions, and women and girls in jazz.

· Attending the Annual JEN Conference can be life changing for a student. This sentiment was expressed passionately by most of our own JazzArts Allstar students who attended the 2024 JEN Conference in January. “[The experience] was like magic to me…I will never forget how it felt being at my first jazz conference.” ~Rico

· The future of Jazz Education is bright! I am excited about the emerging leaders in the Jazz Education space, and what they will contribute to the music in the years ahead!

If you are interested in being a part of the global jazz community, and become a member of JEN today! https://jazzednet.org/join-jen/

Lonnie Davis
JazzArts Charlotte President and CEO