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

Dear Friend of Oaktown Jazz Workshops,

It is thanks to you that we enter 2017 with the momentum of over two decades full of supporting young musicians and presenting family friendly concerts at venues and schools throughout the Bay Area.  Recently we have added classes in improvisation, music theory, and percussion at our location in Jack London Square.  All of this programming is built around Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ year-round, twice weekly, jazz performance workshops where students learn the tradition of jazz directly from professional master musicians.

Young musicians from diverse backgrounds regularly meet at OJW where they are given high quality music education in a safe and supportive environment.  As they develop their musicianship they receive guidance that allows them to both discover their own distinct musical voices and become supportive members of an ensemble.  Many of today’s internationally celebrated jazz musicians including Ambrose Akinmusire, Jonathan Finlayson, and Dayna Stephens, took some of their first solos at OJW, but more importantly, the skills that young people pick up through our program help to prepare them for adulthood.  Gaining the courage to improvise a solo in front of an audience gives a child the confidence to share their thoughts and ideas with others.  And collaborating creatively as a part of a group naturally encourages young people to become more engaged community members.

OJW’s Founding Director, Khalil Shaheed, was committed to passing jazz on to the next generation of musicians through a historically authentic form of jazz education, complete with mentors, performance opportunities and access to live concerts. This approach is based on making jazz performance education accessible to all young people who value it.

Four years ago we launched the Khalil Shaheed Scholarship Fund to cover the cost of our workshops for young musicians who could not otherwise afford tuition.  Please help Oaktown Jazz Workshops continue to thrive and serve as a local community asset by making a contribution today. 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