a community building initiative - we are one jazz · pdf filea community building initiative...

A Community Building Initiative

Five-Year Sponsorship Overview

2009–2010 Sponsors

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Education Partners: Howard Rees’ Jazz Workshops and DAREarts Foundation Inc.

We Are One Jazz Project 3042 Con. 3 Adjala, RR1, Palgrave, ON CANADA L0N 1P0 www.WeAreOneJazzProject.com [email protected] 905-729-0097 or 416-937-8620 Canadian Charitable No. 88691 7764 RR0002

mailto:[email protected]

Five-Year Jazz Outreach Initiative

Our Program:Launched in 2008 as a highly successful pilot project, WE ARE ONE is a joint initiative between Howard Rees (Howard Rees’ Jazz Workshops) and Marilyn Field (DAREarts Foundation). Our mandate is to bring together young ‘at-risk’ children and master Jazz musicians.

Research and our own experience points to a richer, more successful educational experience for children exposed to the arts. Thus, the purpose of our program is to empower participating children by exposing them first hand to the beauty and power of Jazz music.

Our 5 year initiative will deliver this innovative Jazz Music Program to 300 children from a different high-priority community in each of the next 5 years.

“I’ve seen bad boys become good boys…” Dr. Barry Harris

Goals:1) Use the model of the children’s jazz choir outreach program that was created in 2008 and finessed in 2009, culminating in a final concert that will inspire ‘at-risk’ children across Canada.

2) Bring together ‘at-risk’ students and master musicians, including Jazz legend, Dr. Barry Harris.

3) Create an environment for the children to actively experience the beauty and creative power of singing plus Jazz music - thereby nurturing their own creative energies from a fundamental place of self-awareness and empowerment.

4) Provide Canadian communities with a critical “good news” success story involving a targeted group that is all too often associated with violence and divisiveness.

5) Reach a larger audience through alliances with various media, including TV, radio and print.

The Five-Year Plan: 2010 – 2015

Each year of our new five-year initiative will target a different high-priority community of the GTA, ensuring that this unique and innovative music program reaches a maximum number of children. Further, our plan calls for prior participants to take part in each successive year’s concert, encouraging community bonds to develop around the region.


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Each annual project will run from October to February. During that four-month period, we will develop a children's choir (grades 3-6) drawn from all interested schools across a school district. The choir will be open to all students. There will be no auditions nor is previous music training required.

Weekly rehearsals (at one hosting school) will be conducted by internationally renowned Toronto based jazz musicians Howard Rees and Brian Katz with the assistance of the DAREarts vocal coaches and coordinating team. In addition to the children's choir, there will be a teen/adult choir, big band, string section and professional guest soloists that will all come together to perform a high profile, public performance at the conclusion of project. In past years, we have performed at the Toronto Centre for the Arts and at Koerner Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music.

On several occasions throughout the project, legendary Jazz Master Barry Harris will conduct the rehearsals. Dr. Harris has taught, performed and recorded with a virtual who's who of the Jazz world. He continues to be Jazz music’s senior ambassador traveling the globe, inspiring new generations of young musicians. A recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammy Foundation, Dr. Harris’ music will form the ensembles’ repertoire. Dr. Harris and two of his protégés, Charles McPherson (San Diego, CA) and Howard Rees (Toronto) will be guest artists at the concluding concert.

“It made me feel happy in my heart.” 9-yr.old boy

Project History: In September 2008, Howard Rees (Howard Rees’ Jazz Workshops) & Marilyn Field, (DAREarts Foundation) joined forces to answer the needs of ‘at-risk’ children in Toronto. Our highly successful pilot project, involving a partnership with the North West 1 division of the Toronto District School Board, succeeded in its aim of bringing together ‘at-risk’ children and master musicians. An ensemble of nearly 300 performers (combining a children’s choir and instrumentalists from a local Toronto Arts High School) was featured at a high profile public performance, along side professional special guests. The ensuing project in 2009 grew to an impressive 500 students from the downtown Toronto core and drew continued praise from the TDSB, all levels of government and the Toronto media. From these two years of success, we are proposing this five-year expansion plan.

Composition of Children’s Choir:The children’s choir is representative of the diverse ethnic fabric of our city. It is open to all students, welcoming those with no formal music background. In ’09-‘10, the choir size was over 400 children!


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Logistics:From October to February, ninety-minute rehearsals will be held every Thursday morning in a central location to which all participating students travel. Classroom teachers will accompany each school’s participants. These teachers must commit to spending a minimum of 30 minutes per week reviewing the songs with their students.

Additionally, professional vocal coaches will give weekly singing workshops in those schools that have no other source of music education.

Dr. Barry Harris will fly in from New York for three rehearsals plus the final performance. Internationally renowned musicians, Howard Rees (project director) and Brian Katz (children’s choir conductor) will direct rehearsals between Dr. Harris’ visits, assisted by DAREarts teachers who also will visit each school’s classes weekly to rehearse the children in smaller groups.

About Jazz Legend Dr. Barry Harris:Dr. Harris is recognized internationally as the greatest living Jazz pianist and teacher of Jazz music. A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Dr. Harris lives in New York and spends much of his time crisscrossing the globe performing, teaching master classes and inspiring young people.

About Howard Rees and the Jazz Workshops:Howard Rees is an internationally known jazz pianist, educator, author and founder of Canada’s oldest independent jazz school. Co-developer of this outreach program, Howard’s model for empowering young Canadians through jazz is based upon his 30+ year association with Dr. Harris as his protégé. Please visit www.jazzworkshops.com.

About Marilyn Field and DAREarts:DAREarts is recognized as ‘one of the most innovative arts education programs in the world’. Founded by teacher and project co-developer Marilyn Field, a Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal recipient, DAREarts delivers arts education programs that empower at-risk Canadian children to take charge of their lives. Arts professionals are trained to teach and inspire the children through active workshops. Please visit www.darearts.com.


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http://www.darearts.com/

2010 - 2011 Schedule

Oct 1-14: Howard Rees & Brian Katz conduct preparatory in-school workshops

Ongoing: DAREarts vocal coaches conduct weekly in-school workshops Week 1: October 14 9:30 to 11am rehearsal Dr. Harris’ 1st visit

Week 2: October 21 9:30 to 11am rehearsal

Week 3: October 28 9:30 to 11am rehearsal

Week 4: November 4 9:30 to 11am rehearsal Dr. Harris’ 2nd visit

Week 5: November 11 9:30 to 11am rehearsal



Week 8: December 2 9:30 to 11am rehearsal

Week 9: December 9 9:30 to 11am rehearsal Dr. Harris’ 3rd visit

Week 10: December 16 9:30 to 11am rehearsal

(DEC. 23 TO JAN. 5: HOLIDAY BREAK)

Week 11: January 6 All-In rehearsal



Week 14: January 28 7 pm Toronto Centre for the Arts Concert


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Budget: The We Are One yearly operating budget is $100,000. Last year, we successfully met our target through the generosity of private donors, TD Financial Group and KPMG.

There is no financial cost to the participating schools. However, for the last two years, the Toronto District School Board has generously provided busing transportation for their students to the weekly rehearsals and to the final performance – an annual value of $10,000 - $15,000.

Your Role:Please help to empower the children through this powerful initiative. The We Are One Jazz Project Five -Year plan offers multiple-year opportunities at your choice of sponsorship level.

To discuss benefits and ways to tailor your sponsorship to suit your needs, please call Marilyn Field (DAREarts) at 905-729-0097 or Howard Rees (Jazz Workshops) at 416-937-8620.

Naming Sponsor $50,000

1. Opportunity to add name to title of this initiative2. Name and logo on all correspondence including letterhead, media releases, the We

Are One Jazz Project website, invitations, concert programs, etc.3. Opportunity to host VIP reception at concert 4. Opportunity for onstage presence at concert5. Full page ad on back cover of program 6. Tax receipt upon request

Program & Concert Sponsor $25,000

1. Name or logo shared with others on all correspondence including media releases, websites, invitations, concert programs, etc.

2. Recognition of your sponsorship given from stage at concert 3. One page ad within program4. Tax receipt upon request

“Please can we come again next year?” 11 year-old girl


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Additional Sponsorship Opportunities

1. Name or logo shared with others on all correspondence including media releases, websites, invitations, concert programs, etc.

2. Recognition of your sponsorship given from stage at concert 3. Tax receipt upon request

Sponsor Jazz Legend, Dr. Barry Harris 10,000

Underwrite children’s choir weekly rehearsals 10,000

Underwrite weekly in-school workshops @$2,500 per school 10,000

Sponsor Project Director, Howard Rees 7,500

Sponsor Choir Conductor, Brian Katz 7,500

Sponsor concert tickets for children’s families 5,000

Sponsor guest artist 2,500

Sponsor nutritious snacks for participating children 1,000

Sponsor a teaching video 1,000

Advertising space in the concert program 500


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a community building initiative - we are one jazz · pdf filea community building initiative...

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