Every month, The Jazz Session asks you to take a little of your hard-earned cash and give it to folks who need it. This month’s cause:
The mission of the Tipitina’s Foundation is to restore Louisiana’s irreplaceable music community and preserve the state’s unique musical cultures. The history of the Tipitina’s Foundation originates from the Tipitina’s music venue, a revered cultural icon that continues to be instrumental in the development and promotion of New Orleans music around the world. The foundation works to support childhood music education, the professional development of adult musicians, and the increased profile and viability of New Orleans music as a cultural, educational, and economic resource.
The Tipitina’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1997, has worked diligently to uplift the music community of New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, the Foundation adjusted its programs to contribute to rebuilding the musical culture of New Orleans. The Tipitina’s Foundation focuses it efforts on four programs:
- Instruments A Comin’, which purchases much needed instruments for New Orleans area school band programs. To date we have purchased over one million dollars worth of instruments for over 20 schools benefiting over 800 students.
- Tipitina’s Internship Program is a mentoring program teaching all aspects of the music industry to New Orleans exceptional music students. Since its launch in 2003, we have had over 60 interns who have completed the program and gone on to further there music and production careers at established organizations such as Juilliard School, Brown University, Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at Tisch School of the Arts / NYU, and the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
- Tipitina’s Music Office Co-Op, statewide resource facilities providing business development and job skills training for local musicians and other digital media professionals. New Orleans, Shreveport, Alexandria boasts over 1,000 members statewide. The Baton Rouge Co-Op opening date to be determined.
- Sunday Music Workshops offer students the opportunity to play with and learn from the best musicians in the city including featured artists, Stanton Moore, Johnny Vidacovich, Kirk Joseph, and Theresa Anderson.
Through these efforts, the Tipitina’s Foundation is preserving the musical cultures of New Orleans.
