Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz

The Thelonious Institute of Jazz is the world's foremost jazz education and outreach organization. In the spring of 2010, they will return to the Bologna Performing Arts Center and the Mississippi Delta for their "Jazz and Blues: Two American Classics" informance and education program. 

Underwritten by Bill and Caroline Powers, "Jazz and Blues: Two American Classics" is an innovative effort that showcases some of the top talents on the world jazz scene in a combined creative effort with some of the top talents of the American blues scene. The result is an audience-pleasing, one-of-a-kind Delta music show that pleases both Jazz and Delta Blues fans alike. Past guest artists have included Alvin Youngblood Hart, Joe Louis Walker, and three-time Grammy Award winning blues musician Keb' Mo'.    

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has performed for everyone from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, and most recently, for First Lady Michelle Obama. They also participate in worldwide tours of countries including India, Egypt, Thailand, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Vietnam with Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock. Their frequent collaborators and supporters include a "who's who" of American jazz  including Terence Blanchard, Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, and Danilo Perez.

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization, and was founded in 1986 by the Monk family along with the late Maria Fisher, an opera singer and lifelong devotee of music. Its mission is to offer the world's most promising young musicians college level training by America's jazz masters and to present public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the world. All of these programs are offered free of charge to the students and schools. The Institute's programs fill a tremendous void in arts education caused by public school budget cuts. They strive to help children develop imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and respect for their own and others' cultural heritage.