POPS In Schools

Launched in 2015, POPS in Schools is an EITC-certified program that supplements music education for students in the School District of Philadelphia by embedding POPS Musicians and Teaching Artists in schools to cultivate the music leaders of tomorrow with mentorship from the music leaders of today.

POPS in Schools provides programming for high school students through the All-City Jazz Festival held each April during Jazz Appreciation Month and with weekly in-school activities at four elementary schools and one high school.

This past school year, your generous support allowed:

• 3,000 students to receive impactful music programming

• 30 POPS musicians to train, coach, and mentor music students

• 10 schools to participate in the All-City Jazz Festival

• 400 students to perform in the Kimmel Center prior to a POPS concert

• 1,500 free tickets to schools to concerts

PRE-CONCERT ENTERTAINMENT

This weekend’s Pre-Concert Performances is provided by the School District of Philadelphia high school jazz bands that participate in our All-City Jazz program.

Under the direction of Artistic Director for Jazz Terell Stafford, an internationally-recognized jazz trumpeter and the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies for Boyer College of Music at Temple University, All-City Jazz features masterclasses and performance opportunities for 10 Philadelphia School District high school jazz ensembles.

This all-day festival culminates at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and includes masterclasses and performances by the Temple University Jazz Band and University of the Arts “Z” Big Band. The capstone performance is the All-City Jazz Showcase that features participating jazz bands and the audition-only All-City Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Stafford.