CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

Established in fall 1986 by David Levy, (then Dean of Parsons) and jazz saxophonist and iconoclast Arnie Lawrence, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music is thriving at 20! In keeping with it’s founders’ vision, the school remains at the forefront of music education by combining the teaching model of the community-based, mentor-student style of jazz’s early years with the academic rigor and curricular depth of a modern conservatory - providing what is essential for our students and graduates to meet the artistic and professional demands of today’s highly competitive music industry.

Over its 20 year history, New School Jazz enrollment has grown from the first entering class of 36 in September 1986 to a current population of close to 300 degree-seeking candidates studying with 75 regular faculty and a roster of over 100 affiliated artists. Staff has grown from 2 to 13 with dedicated personnel in Admissions, Academic Affairs, Engineering and Facilities, Special Programs, and Budget and Administration. A major milestone occurred in fall 1995, when the school moved to a bona fide artistic home in new dedicated university facilities at 55 West 13th street, including class and practice rooms and an intimate, 112 seat Performance Space.

At New School Jazz, performance is the ultimate demonstration of student excellence and mission outcome, and the laboratory where unique musical learning takes place. Through new creative alliances, focused programming concepts, and increased marketing and publicity, our public programs and performances have never been stronger or more active. Examples include a full calendar of more than 150 student recitals and concerts each year, an outreach office providing professional internships and gig service, weekly performances at the club Sweet Rhythm, our Jazz Presents performance series showcasing stellar faculty with rising alumni or current students, and external high visibility performances that include Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, and on-air live recordings on radio stations WBGO and WBAI.

Faculty and alumni accomplishments are constant and many, but perhaps a “snap-shot” of activity during a short period last spring in the NYC artistic community is a simple and significant way to illustrate the reputation and success of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Within the same three week period, piano alumnus Robert Glasper was signed to Blue Note records, the premiere jazz label in the world, full-time faculty member Reggie Workman was featured in Jazztimes magazine, and Alumnus Ali Jackson was appointed musical director of Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in the new Jazz at Lincoln Center facility. Alumna Miri Ben-Ari won a Grammy for Best Rap Song for co-writing the Kanye West hit, “Jesus Walks,” while club listings showed no less than 24 faculty members and 18 different alumni featured as leaders or sidemen in performances in NYC’s renowned concert and jazz club scene. At the same time, the Beacons in Jazz Gala generated tremendous press coverage in the jazz trades and society columns, including photo features in the NY Times, the Sun, Jet magazine, Downbeat, All About Jazz, and Jazztimes. This real life evidence demonstrates the position of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music as a world leader in jazz education, and speaks to the unparalleled quality of the school’s faculty and student body.

At 20 years, New School Jazz has come of age! With vision and values established, and with the ever increasing support of friends, parents, alumni and donors, the next 20 years promise the brightest of futures. The ultimate proof is heard in the musical voices of an established generation of New School Jazz alumni, present at the highest artistic levels and represented in every musical genre. This is the rich legacy that the next generations of young artists at The New School inherit, pushing ever new frontiers of jazz and musical expression, and further solidifying the artistic leadership of the students, faculty and alumni of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.