Ambrose Akinmusire - New Artistic Director
Ambrose Akinmusire, 2007 graduate, named Artistic Director of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA.
Hancock Institute News
Renowned Trumpeter/Composer Ambrose Akinmusire Named Artistic Director of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA
Institute’s 2023 International Piano Competition (Oct. 14-15, NYC) in Association with the New Perelman Performing Arts Center
International Jazz Day 2023 Worldwide Celebration Concludes with Extraordinary All-Star Global Concert
Institute’s Peer-to-Peer Sextet presents Jazz Education Tour to Virginia Public Schools, May 22-26
Institute Kicks Off Arkansas Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tour, May 15-19
International Jazz Day 2023, April 30th: A Jazz Journey around the World
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition To Take Place October 14-15
Watch the 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert here on April 1st at 7:30pm ET
Watch the April 4th Informance with trumpeter Terell Stafford hosted by the U.S. Dept. of Education
Wayne Shorter 1933-2023
Institute/LAUSD All-City band wows attendees at Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival
All-Star Student Ensembles Lead Public School Peer-to-Peer Tours Alongside Bobby Watson, Lisa Henry, Sean Jones
Institute Concludes Educational & Cultural Tour of Jordan
Institute Presents Educational Jazz Informance at U.S. Department of Education, Hosted by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
Institute Announces Delaware Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tour, May 16-22
International Jazz Day 2022 Concludes with Spectacular All-Star Global Concert from the United Nations
Institute Set to Bring All-Star HS Jazz Quintet to Milwaukee Public Schools for Peer-to-Peer Tour, May 9-13
International Jazz Day 2022, April 30th, a Call for Global Peace and Unity
Watch the U.S. Dept. of Education Informance Hosted by Secretary Cardona
Watch the 2022 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert
Remembering Madeleine Albright
International Jazz Day 2022 Registration Now Open on jazzday.com
College Program Class of 2023 Thrills L.A. Audiences with Monthly Residency at Sam First
Guest Instructors Bring Diverse Perspectives, Insights to Institute of Jazz Performance
Institute Education Vice President leads three-day residency at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Support the Institute on Giving Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Herbie Hancock Serves as the Voice of UNESCO 75th Anniversary Video
Announcing the Institute of Jazz Performance Class of 2023
Institute Trustee Wayne Shorter Announced as 2021 Doris Duke Artist
Stanley Jordan, Legendary Guitarist and Educator, Gives Jazz in the Classroom Workshops for DCPS Students
Institute Students Head Back to School for 2021-22 Academic Year
2008 Saxophone Competition Winner Jon Irabagon to Star in Upcoming Solo Performance Film
An Impressive Finish for Jazz in the Classroom Class of 2021
New Video Features Jazz Legend Herbie Hancock, Aims to Educate Kindergarteners Around the World
Remembering Lynda Thomas
Institute Teaching Artists Serve as Guest Lecturers for UCLA Global Jazz Studies
Institute alum Tyralucia joins KJAZZ 88.1 FM as newest morning host
International Jazz Day 2021 Concludes with Spectacular Global Concert Featuring Performances from Across the Globe
Tune in: International Jazz Day 2021 All-Star Global Concert Live Webcast
Watch the International Jazz Day 2021 Education Programs
International Jazz Day 10th Anniversary Celebration to Take Place Worldwide, April 30, 2021
Virtual Informance with U.S. Dept. of Education shows the uplifting power of jazz
Herbie Hancock & Secretary Cardona host Virtual Jazz Informance in Conjunction with U.S. Dept. of Education
College Program Grad Lenard Simpson Leads Composition Workshop for UCLA Global Jazz Studies
Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock featured on CBS Sunday Morning
International Jazz Day 2021 Registration Now Open
The Institute Participates in Giving Tuesday
Herbie Hancock takes part in UCLA Arts virtual discussion: “What Is Hope?”
Institute begins 2020 fall semester with strong slate of virtual programming
Watch the 2020 BeBop to Hip-Hop Summer Program Virtual Concert
GRAMMY Award-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington serves as BeBop to Hip-Hop 2020 guest artist
Advisory Board member Quincy Jones’ Qwest TV to make Educational Platform available to schools for free
Herbie Hancock Institute Unveils Virtual Summer Slate of Free Music Education Programs for Students
The Institute goes virtual in response to COVID-19
International Jazz Day 2020 Virtual Celebration Features Artists From Across the Globe
A Message from Our Chairman
Leadership Through the Jazz Paradigm
Updates to International Jazz Day, April 30
National Performing Arts High Schools Students Perform at 2020 JEN Conference in New Orleans
Remembering Jimmy Heath
Getting the Band Back Together: National Peer-to-Peer Quintet performs at 2019 Competition
2019 Guitar Competition Finalists Share Stage with Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock & Others at All-Star Gala Concert
Semifinalists Announced for 2019 Guitar Competition, December 2-3 in Washington, D.C.
Newport Festivals Foundation supports Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA with donation of instruments
Dr. Dyas in DownBeat: Tour Etiquette for Young Musicians
2019 Guitar Competition To Take Place December 2-3 in Washington, D.C.
Application open for college program class entering fall 2020
Los Angeles Jazz in the Classroom students open 24th annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival
Institute brings life lessons of jazz to Federal Trade Commission
Sean Jones, Lisa Henry lead 2019 Peer-to-Peer Tour in New England Public Schools
International Jazz Day 2019 Worldwide Celebration Concludes with Extraordinary All-Star Global Concert in Melbourne, Australia
International Jazz Day 2019 Education Program puts focus on the students
Worldwide celebration of International Jazz Day, 30 April to kick off in Australia
Christian McBride Holds Free Master Class During February Residency
Hancock Institute Brings All-Star High School Jazz Sextet to Oklahoma Public Schools, Feb. 25 – Mar. 1
Institute VP recognized at inaugural UCLA Publications Showcase
Institute leads free workshop for talented South Central music students
Robert Hurst Concludes Weeklong Residency at Institute of Jazz Performance
Tom Oren Selected as First-Place Winner for 2018 Piano Competition
2018 Piano Competition to take place December 2-3 in Washington, D.C.
Announcement: Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
Institute, LAUSD present P120 keyboard to music program at Rancho Dominguez Prep
Artist-in-Residence Carl Allen Leads Free Master Class at UCLA
Institute of Jazz Performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Welcomes Class of 2020
2010 Competition Winner Cécile McLorin Salvant Featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk
Education VP Begins September Performing Arts High Schools Education Tour
In Memory of Aretha Franklin
Institute Students, Alumni Represented at 23rd Central Avenue Jazz Festival
Institute Trustee Shorter Announced as 2018 Kennedy Center Honoree
Don Braden, Bobby Broom, Lisa Henry lead 2018 Peer-to-Peer Tours to the Dakotas, San Diego
LA Jazz in the Classroom Spring Concert Swings in the Summer
Graduation for the Institute of Jazz Performance Class of 2018
College Program hosts final jam session at blue whale on Tuesday, June 5
Jazz in the Classroom students participate in 2018 DCPS Music Festival
International Jazz Day 2018 Comes to a Close Following Celebratory Concerts in St. Petersburg and New Orleans
International Jazz Day Weekend to Launch with Special Broadcast on PBS
Photos from an International Jazz Day Salute to New Orleans
Program Announced for International Jazz Day 2018 in St. Petersburg, Russia
International Jazz Day Salute to New Orleans Concert to take place April 22 in Congo Square
National Performing Arts High Schools group, Wayne Escoffery to perform at the U.S. Department of Education, April 6
All-Star High School Jazz Sextet to Tour Fargo and Sioux Falls Public Schools for April Peer-to-Peer Program
Producer Larry Klein visits College Program, shares decades of musical experience
2015 Competition winner Jazzmeia Horn featured at PyeongChang Olympics
Institute of Jazz Performance Fellows to Tour Phoenix Public Schools
Peer-to-Peer All-Star featured on CNN’s “Turning Points”
UNESCO Announces 2018 & 2019 Global Hosts for International Jazz Day
College Program
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA is a two-year tuition-free program accepting one ensemble of musicians for each class. All students receive full scholarships and stipends to cover their living expenses. Students study individually and as a small group, receiving mentoring, ensemble coaching, and lectures on the jazz tradition.
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International Jazz Day
International Jazz Day is the world's largest annual celebration of jazz. In November 2011, UNESCO officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. Jazz Day is celebrated each year in more than 190 countries on all continents.
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Competition
Established in 1987, the International Competition is the most prestigious of its kind, recognized for discovering the next generation of jazz masters. The competition focuses on a different instrument each year and features an all-star judging panel. Winners receive significant scholarships to support college studies and private music lessons.
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Peer-to-Peer Program
Through the Institute’s Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tours, gifted student musicians from twelve public performing arts high schools across the country present weeklong tours for their peers in other cities, performing and teaching alongside our master teaching artists.
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International Tours
Through regular tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department and other partners, the Institute builds bridges to other cultures and increases musical understanding through jazz education, performances and community engagement. Since 1989, the Institute's international programs have taken master jazz musicians to nearly 40 countries across 6 continents.
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Jazz In The Classroom
Jazz in the Classroom programs are tailored for elementary, middle, high school, and college students to help them develop an understanding of and appreciation for jazz music. The initiative strives to share the positive aspects of jazz with young people who would not otherwise have opportunities to learn about this great national treasure.
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VideosFeaturedPeer-to-PeerJazz in the ClassroomCompetitionInternational Jazz DayCollege ProgramPerforming Arts HSVirtual Programs
“Footprints” with Herbie Hancock, Don Braden | Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA
“Imagine”: Finale from International Jazz Day 2022
Herbie Hancock plays Maiden Voyage at International Jazz Day 2022
“Beatrice” by the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Class of 2023
Give Today!
Celebrating UNESCO’s 75th, Narrated by Herbie Hancock
Jazz on the Screen: A Conversation on Film Scoring with Herbie Hancock & Kris Bowers | #JazzDay10
What Is Jazz, And Why It Is Important to The World | U.S. Dept. of Education Informance
Jazz Day: A Decade of Inspiration | A Conversation with Herbie Hancock & UNESCO DG Audrey Azoulay
The Art of Composition with Hancock Institute Graduate Lenard Simpson