Overview

Established in 2008, WE ARE ONE JAZZ PROJECT is a joint initiative between Howard Rees (Howard Rees’ Jazz Workshops) and Marilyn Field (DAREarts Foundation).  Our mandate is to bring together young ‘at risk’ children and Master Jazz Musicians.

Research and our own experience points to a richer, more successful educational experience for children exposed to the arts, and the purpose of our program is to empower participating students by exposing them first hand to the beauty and power of Jazz Music.

Our 5 year initiative, will deliver this innovative Jazz Music Program to a different ‘at risk’ area of the GTA in each of the next 5 years.

The Plan: 2010 – 2015

Each annual project will run from October to February. During that four-month period, we will develop a children’s choir (grades 4-6) drawn from all interested schools across a school district.  The choir will be open to all students. There are no auditions nor is previous music training required.

Weekly rehearsals (at one hosting school) will be conducted by internationally known, Toronto jazz musician and project director Howard Rees, with the assistance of the DAREarts team.  In addition to the children’s choir, there will be an adult choir, big band and string section, that will all come together to perform a high profile, public performance at the conclusion of project.  In past years, we have performed at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, and at Koerner Hall.

Our highly successful pilot project, with 300 students from the North Etobicoke region (’08/’09), grew to an impressive 500 students from the downtown Toronto core (‘09/’10).

On several occasions throughout the project, legendary Jazz Master Barry Harris will conduct the rehearsals. Dr. Harris has taught, performed and recorded with a virtual who’s who of the Jazz world.  In addition, he continues to be the senior ambassador for Jazz music, criss-crossing the globe inspiring new generations of young musicians. A recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammy Foundation, Dr. Harris’ music will form the ensembles’ repetoire. Dr. Harris and two of his protégé’s, Charles McPherson (San Diego, CA) and Howard Rees (Toronto) will be guest artists at the concluding concert.

The Budget:

Our current years’ operating budget is $100,000.00.  To date, we have successfully met our target through the generosity of private donors, the TDCT bank and KPMG.

There is no cost to the individual participating schools, however we do ask the TDSB to provide transportation for the students to the weekly rehearsals, and to the final performance.

Our 5-Year Plan makes available opportunities at the Lead and Supporting Sponsor levels. Please contact Marilyn Field at 905-729-0097 for more information.