NewJazzSchool convened over the summer for an exciting second year of free music instruction for New Orleans children. This year, six adult teachers, all professional musicians with New Orleans ties, as well as six student teachers ran the program under the direction of music legend Donald Harrison, Jr. Forty-eight students, up from 35 in 2007, enrolled in the two-week camp after successfully auditioning last spring. Each student had at least one private lesson and several group lessons. Guest artists included Leah Chase, Dr. Michael White and Brian Lynch from New York.

The Surdna Foundation this year gave NewJazzSchool a two-year grant to pay for an increased number of teachers and therefore an improved student-teacher ratio. The other sponsors, besides Newman, are the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation, Sweet Home New Orleans/Renew Our Music Fund and Tipitina’s Foundation.