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Igniting a passion for music in
Central Texas students

Through in-school workshops and public performances
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Our Mission

To ignite a passion for music and encourage participation in school music programs among Central Texas youth in underserved communities.

More about us

Igniting a passion for music

By presenting performances and workshops at elementary school campuses and in public spaces.

Celebrating Jazz

And preserving the rich American Jazz tradition through presentations in underserved communities.

Supporting the Austin music scene

By employing local musicians from diverse age groups, backgrounds, and ethnicities.

What We Do

We work with students, teachers, and schools through a variety of live performances that engage students to ignite a passion for music.

Barton Hills Elementary School students attending a school performance by AJW musicians

School Performances

AJW brings professional jazz musicians into Central Texas elementary schools for dynamic live performances. Our program aims to ignite a spark of curiosity and excitement about music and encourage future participation in band, orchestra, or choir. Research shows that music programs help develop academic skills and lead to lifelong friendships within a positive peer group.

Brentwood Elementary School students attending a school workshop

Educational Workshops

Working with school music educators, AJW offers in-class workshops for the third, fourth and fifth grade. We provide a complete set of educational materials, including a downloadable teacher’s guide, an in-person workshop provided by a professional AJW musician, and a performance by our professional jazz band during a school assembly.

Students performing with AJW musicians

Public Jam Sessions

AJW created its Youth Jam program for middle and high school students with an interest in jazz performance and improvisation. Active on a sporadic basis depending on resources, this program gives students the opportunity to jam with professional musicians in a supportive public setting. A new pilot program is in the works to bring Youth Jam to high school band classrooms. 

30 Years of Soul

Kids Reflections

By the Numbers, 1994–2025

Schools served annually
Over 1
Assembly performances
1000 +
Classroom workshops
1000 +
Students served
600000 +

Starting Season 32 in Central Texas Public Schools

Each school year, the AJW selects a theme based on a famous jazz musician or style of jazz.

Testimonials

Ileana Napoles

Harris Elementary, Early College Prep
Thank you for teaching my students that Jazz is an artform that is very much alive...My students directly benefit from programs like yours because I know it leads them to musical activities later on in their school career...When their culture is represented so beautifully, it matters!

Tim Lowke

Director of Fine Arts, Round Rock Independent School District
We are grateful to this organization for helping us to provide this enriching opportunity to our economically disadvantaged students on select campuses. Additionally, many of our campuses are near Title I status which makes it difficult to obtain grant funds for experiences like what Austin Jazz Workshop offers.

Victoria Tijerina

Baranoff Elementary School
Every year, my students are always blown away by the talent and relatability that the Austin Jazz Workshop provides...The Austin Jazz Workshop is vital in the development of my students' musical knowledge and their interest in music outside of the classroom for their future musical careers.

Teles Sanchez

AJW Youth Jam Participant
I started attending AJW Youth Jam sessions when I was still a senior in high school...The opportunity the Youth Jams provided for me fostered significant improvement as a player and performer. It also helped me to deepen my love for the artform and was a big part of why I chose jazz as a career.