JAZZ JAMBOREE

Bravo Waukegan will host its annual Jazz Luncheon benefit on April 23 to support its mission to help underserved children learn to play music.

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Bravo Waukegan will once again hold its annual benefit Jazz Luncheon at Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest on April 23. The event raises much-needed support for the organization, whose mission is to support after school music education and promote student performance opportunities.

The afternoon event will feature a multicourse menu and beverages, as well as live musical performances by Waukegan Mariachi students and a professional jazz quartet. Guests will experience viewing a new video showcasing inspired Waukegan music students and alumni talking about how playing music transformed their lives.

Over the years, Bravo has donated more than 2,000 instruments and today serves more than 7,000 students annually. Bravo programs include, among others, a summer music camp—Bravo Buddies, Mariachi Band after school music enrichment, “Raise the Bar” a music mentorship program through NPR, and the Waukegan JROTC drum and bugle corps.

Michael Rodriguez is a volunteer teacher at Bravo Waukegan teaching the trumpet and other brass instruments. He grew up in Waukegan, went to Waukegan High School, and is now a graduate student at the University of Illinois studying music education. He says teaching at Bravo Waukegan keeps him connected.

“I really do love working with my community. I feel like the kids have so much to bring musically. Waukegan is a low-income community and Bravo actually gives them the opportunity to take private lessons, which typically would be very expensive,” Rodriguez says. “Bravo provides these lessons at such a low cost, so for me it's so cool seeing these kids who otherwise would not have been able to afford lessons just shine because that one barrier is removed.”

He says watching the kids learn and grow and become more musically proficient is one of the best parts about being involved with Bravo.

“It's so exciting and it's so visible on their faces when [the students] are able to get through a really difficult passage. They break their own barriers and meet their own goals, and it's awesome,” he says. “I actually recently saw one of my old students and he's turning into such an amazing adult. He's applying to colleges and he’s getting scholarship offers. I really think Bravo is setting up these students early to reach their goals in life.”

In addition to its teaching programs, Bravo maintains strong partnerships with the CSO, Ravinia Festival, WFMT classic radio’s Bach to School, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and others. The organization serves as a line to these cultural institutions.

Bravo board president and Barrington resident Glen Roberts doesn’t have a formal musical background (although he’s a big classic rock fan) but he met Bravo Waukegan’s executive director Karey Walker at a volunteer jobs fair in Lake County and was impressed with organization’s mission and work.

“There were three things that I found compelling in learning about the mission of Bravo. One is what it's doing for the community and the students. The second is they needed some strategic planning and structure with the board and organization, and that fit well with my background,” Roberts says. “The third is Karey herself, her presence, and how she spoke about the organization.”

Roberts says the Jazz Luncheon on April 23 will be something of a return to normal after the long COVID-19 hiatus, and he’s looking forward to seeing and connecting with current supporters of Bravo and hopefully adding some new ones.

“We expect it to be a real celebration of having everybody together to join in and enjoy each other's company. It's one of our two or three large events,” he says. “We've put together a program that's going be interesting with a high-quality jazz band and nice touches along the way. We think it's such a compelling mission and there are a lot of people out there and we are looking for different ways to try to connect to them and get them involved with us.”

The Bravo Waukegan Jazz Luncheon will take place on Sunday, April 23, from noon to 2 p.m. at Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest. Tickets are $95 and available at bravowaukegan.org.