This is an extraordinary moment in our history. We, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, are proud to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter global movement for justice and accountability, to root out the systemic racism that has been embedded in American life for centuries. Similar crimes against marginalized people all over the world can no longer be ignored.

The Institute Goes Virtual in Response to COVID-19

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VideosFeatured Peer-to-Peer Jazz in the Classroom Competition International Jazz Day College Program Performing Arts HS News TV Specials

International Jazz Day Virtual Global Concert | #JazzDayAtHome 2020

Panel discussion: International Jazz Day in 2020 with Marcus Miller, Sibongile Khumalo & Nate Chinen

Master Class with Igor Butman | International Jazz Day 2020

Taller Virtual con Danilo Pérez | Día Internacional del Jazz 2020

Reharmonizing Arabic Music with Tarek Yamani | International Jazz Day 2020

A Message from Our Chairman

Evgeny Pobozhiy Semifinals Set at 2019 Hancock Institute Competition

Max Light Semifinals Set at 2019 Hancock Institute Competition

Cecil Alexander Semifinals Set at 2019 Hancock Institute Competition

2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition Semifinals

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, NOW MORE THAN EVER

With schools across the country and around the world closed to limit the spread of the coronavirus, we are working diligently to offer our free educational resources to students, teachers and educators making the difficult transition to learning at home. During this unprecedented time, we need your help to ensure we are able to continue offering our enriching programs to public school students across the country.

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Jazz In The Classroom

The Institute’s worldwide, highly regarded 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 series 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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International Jazz Day

The Institute presented the first-ever Virtual Global Concert for International Jazz Day, hosted by Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, Morgan Freeman and Forest Whitaker and featuring performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves and dozens of other world-renowned artists. We also offered an all-virtual suite of free education programs featuring Danilo Pérez, Oran Etkin, Tarek Yamani and others.

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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 served by the Institute present weeklong tours for their peers in other cities.

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College Program

The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance is a tuition-free two-year program that accepts one ensemble of musicians for each class. 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.

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International Tours

The Institute’s goal of preserving and promoting jazz includes introducing people around the world to this great American art form.

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Math Science & Music

With an initial gift from the Northrop Grumman Foundation, in 2016 the Institute launched its free STEM learning curriculum for students throughout the United States and around the world. With funding from additional partners, the Institute is in the process of expanding these groundbreaking curricula.

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