Dear Friend of Oaktown Jazz Workshops,

It is thanks to you that we close out our 25^th year as a thriving community based, non-profit organization for young musicians. At Oaktown Jazz, each young musician develops important skills that come with learning a musical instrument and playing in an ensemble. The self-discipline a child develops to practice, the ability to collaborate with others gained during rehearsals, and the courage strengthened by performing before a live audience are valuable tools that young people can apply for a lifetime.

With support from individuals like you, we are able to create a vibrant community for young musicians and their families. Our afterschool classes and workshops allow young people to learn to perform together, as a group, from professional musicians dedicated to helping youth develop their talents. Our Jazz Encounters program has brought in internationally touring musicians and multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning artists to speak and perform with our excited young musicians.

This past year, Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ youth ensembles performed at dozens of community events, our faculty led 70 presentations and sectionals at public schools, and we have been proud to produce monthly family-friendly concerts at our venue in Jack London Square.

To provide this uniquely dynamic musical education and experience to San Francisco Bay Area youth, we partner with local civic and arts organizations, and rely on support from dedicated community members like you. All contributions made to Oaktown Jazz Workshops go directly to performance education for young people who value it.

Our Founding Director, Khalil Shaheed, created Oaktown Jazz Workshops in 1994 with the mission of passing on the tradition of jazz music to youth in an authentic, supportive environment. Seven years ago we launched the Khalil Shaheed Scholarship Fund to cover the cost of our workshops for young musicians whose families could not otherwise afford tuition. This fund has been absolutely critical in supporting local young people seeking opportunities for creative expression and artistic development.

At this time, your contribution to this fund, in whatever amount you can manage, will encourage our children’s creativity, elevate music education and appreciation, and enrich our community. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Ravi Abcarian
Executive Director

Dear Friend of Oaktown Jazz Workshops,

It is thanks to you that we enter 2019 with the momentum of a successful year and over two decades of providing year-round music education and presentations for young people.

This year Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ young musicians attended 140 ensemble workshops and performed at dozens of community events across the San Francisco Bay Area. Our instructors conducted over 50 music clinics at public schools and we continue to produce family-friendly concerts at our venue in Jack London Square, Oakland.

At the core of our organization are afterschool classes and workshops where young musicians learn to perform together as a group directly from professional musicians dedicated to helping youth develop their talents.

Many of Oaktown Jazz Workshops alumni are now widely recognized as some of the new exciting voices in jazz. Our Founding Director, Khalil Shaheed, was very proud of their musical accomplishments and also proud of how OJW was able to teach youth important life skills far beyond performing music.

Six years ago we launched the Khalil Shaheed Scholarship Fund to cover the cost of our workshops for young musicians whose families could not otherwise afford tuition. This fund has been absolutely critical in supporting local young people seeking opportunities for creative expression and artistic development.

Your support, in whatever amount you can manage, will encourage our children’s creativity, elevate music education and appreciation, and enrich our community.

Sincerely,

Ravi Abcarian
Executive Director

You’re invited to a concert performance featuring the outstanding young musicians of Oaktown Jazz Workshops and The John Santos Quintet.

The concert takes place at 7PM on Saturday, October 6th at Oaktown Jazz Workshops, 55 Washington Street, Jack London Square, Oakland.

This event is a benefit for Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ year-round music program for youth. As you may know, I’ve been with Oaktown Jazz Workshops since 1997, and have seen the incredible impact that we’ve had on the lives of countless youth.  We are only able to continue thriving thanks to support from individuals like you.

Tickets are available at https://oaktownjazz2018.brownpapertickets.com

Tell a friend and if you participate in social media please share the event Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1296727803796851/

Thank you,

Ravi Abcarian

Executive Director
Oaktown Jazz Workshops

Dear Friend of Oaktown Jazz Workshops,

Thank you for supporting community-based jazz education in Oakland. As Oaktown Jazz Workshops (OJW) enters our 24^th year, we continue to thrive – offering high quality music instruction to youth from across the San Francisco Bay Area. We are especially proud of our outstanding alumni who apply the collaborative skills gained through our program to positively engage in their communities and pursue meaningful careers. Over the past year, many of our alumni, now working as professional musicians, have returned to Oaktown Jazz to lead captivating concerts and make time to teach young musicians currently in our program.

With the shocking political climate and disheartening tone of today’s news, OJW’s programs are needed now more than ever. We put youth first, and our priority is making sure that young people have a safe space where their potential can be recognized and fostered.

OJW’s twice weekly, year-round Performance Ensemble workshops and recently added Jazz Improvisation class provide young musicians a supportive environment where they are mentored by a small group of instructors dedicated to helping youth develop their talents.

Our Founding Director, Khalil Shaheed, created OJW to pass down the language of jazz through the historically traditional method of mentorship, access to live concerts, and performance opportunities. In 2017, in addition to our 140 workshops, we presented 10 family friendly concerts and 20 OJW Youth Ensemble concerts, offered jazz encounter clinics with artists such as John Santos and The Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis, and held 47 music sectionals and presentations in East Bay public middle schools.

Five years ago we launched the Khalil Shaheed Scholarship Fund to cover the cost of our workshops for young musicians whose families could not otherwise afford tuition. This fund has been absolutely critical in supporting local young people seeking opportunities for creative expression and artistic development. At this time, your contribution to Oaktown Jazz Workshops will allow us to continue to serve as a vibrant local community asset.

Your support, in whatever amount you can manage, will encourage our children’s creativity, elevate music education and appreciation, and enrich our community.

Sincerely,

Ravi Abcarian
Executive Director

A remarkable trumpet player and prolific composer in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene for over 25 years, Mark Wright was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010.

Your support now will help Mark maintain his independence and quality of life while living with MS. gofundme.com/markwright

A CD release party for Suite Elemental

Josiah Woodson trumpet, guitar
Art Khu piano
Ravi Abcarian bass
Elé Howell drums

Sunday, July 30^th • 6PM

55 Washington Street, Jack London Square, Oakland

Suggested donation $15 – $30

A fundraiser for Oaktown Jazz Workshops

Eric Garland- drums
Ravi Abcarian- bass
Malcolm Campbell- piano, keyboard
Jesse Levit- alto saxophone, EWI

Friday, August 4th

8PM

55 Washington Street, Jack London Square, Oakland

Suggested donation $15 -30

On November 12th, 2016 Will Sims was killed in an attack that began with a racial slur

Join us for this concert to honor Will’s life presented by his musical community the day before what would have been his 29th birthday

Saturday, July 1st

8PM

Hosted by Bay Area Radio Personality Greg Bridges

This is a free concert. Proceeds from contributions made at the door will go toward Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ “William Sims Private Lesson Scholarship Fund”

55 Washington Street in Jack London Square

Oakland, CA

94607