Plan C:  In 2008 I founded We Are One Jazz Project.  A registered Canadian charitable organization, this annual mentorship project matches master musicians with children from priority neighborhoods.  The concept was born out of several of my own experiences and observations, including:

• that the beauty and power of jazz music is a force for social change
• the world is losing knowledge at a rate far exceeding that at which it’s being replaced
• despite current political slash & burn ‘thinking’, exposure to the classical arts plays an essential role in young people’s development.

Students (grades 3-6) attend weekly choir rehearsals and in class jazz vocal coaching sessions over a 4-month period.  This intensive program culminates in a high profile public performance.  The centerpiece of the performance is the children’s choir (250-300 voices) accompanied by a big band, a string section, the We Are One Jazz Voices and special guest artists. Our repetoire is drawn from the beautiful orchestral works of Barry Harris.