KHALIL SHAHEED SCHOLARSHIP FUND 2022

Dear friend of Oaktown Jazz Workshops (OJW),
 
Thanks to you, we are looking forward to 2023 with a year of significance and growth behind us.
 
Last winter, we launched a series of concerts that featured OJW alumni leading their own musical groups at our space in Jack London Square. These remarkable performances brought together musicians and audiences from over the last 28 years of Oaktown Jazz Workshops’ programs and events.
 
This past year, we were also excited to add two new classes. For students interested in the technical aspects of concerts, our Live Audio Reinforcement class offers hands-on audio production experience. OJW’s first ever Vocal Ensemble class focuses on singing jazz, soul, contemporary, and world music in four-part harmony!
 
Our Jazz in the Schools program made over 30 visits to public schools in Alameda and Contra Costa County, and our Jazz Encounters clinics brought internationally recognized touring musicians to share their experience and knowledge with young musicians. We experienced a new level of demand and urgency for students to receive one-on-one instruction, so we expanded our offerings to provide over 500 private lessons.
 
All this programming is built around OJW’s year-round workshops, where dedicated faculty members welcome young musicians into a safe and supportive space. At Oaktown Jazz Workshops, youth improve their skills and develop their individual musical voices while collaborating with others.
 
Offering a music program that young musicians consistently find inspiring and authentic would not be possible without the support of individual community members. Ten 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 contribution to this fund will encourage our children’s creativity, elevate music education and appreciation, and enrich our community.
 
Thank you for considering Oaktown Jazz Workshops for a year-end donation.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ravi Abcarian
Executive Director

Oakland Youth Jazz Education