Salem Jazz Soul Festival Awarded Coveted 'Gold Star' Award From Mass Cultural Council

Jan. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Local cultural councils in every city and town in Massachusetts can nominate an organization and only a handful are selected for the Gold Star Award. The award will be presented later this Spring.

“The board members of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival would like to thank to the Salem Cultural Council for nominating us for this recognition and the Massachusetts Cultural Council,” says Larry Claflin, executive director of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival. “This award is a tribute to all our sponsors and volunteers sponsors who support the festival and allow us to put on great musical programs and foster music education programs on the North Shore.”

Since 2007, the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, in addition to bringing high quality entertainment to the city, has supported music education in the community to ensure that the region continues to generate outstanding musicians in the years ahead. Thanks to generous donations from numerous patrons who supported the festival, The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival has donated $29,000 to music education programs throughout Salem and the North Shore over recent years.

This past year, the festival has provided grants to: the jazz orchestra at Salem High School; music programs in the Lynn Public Schools; music programs and internship opportunities at North Shore Recovery High School; private music lessons for foster kids on the North Shore; NorthEast Arc for a pilot music therapy program for children with autism;  a collaboration between Salem State University and Salem High School to fund interactive workshops; scholarships for low-income students to attend music camp and funds to enhance music programs at the On Point teen center in Salem.

“As board members of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, we always feel gratified at the end of each season when we are able take some of the funds we raise and pay it forward to help fund music education for deserving students in our local public schools,” explains Laura Gallant, the festival's education director. “It is what our slogan ‘Great music for a greater cause’ is all about.”

According to Gallant, funding initiatives for 2013 will include funding for monthly programming for the children's room at Salem Public Library; support of both Salem and Lynn Public schools by granting them one "wish" from the top of their music wish list; music scholarships for several high school students to attend the Salem Sate University Jazz/Recording camp; and internship opportunities for local high school students."

“We realize our efforts and the generosity of our patrons is a small but important contribution to foster music education programs throughout this region,” adds Claflin.  “We hope that through the success of our summer music programs we can do our part to ensure that music remains an important part of the educational curriculum and hope that our gift inspires other individuals and groups to do the same

Learn more about the http://www.salemjazzsoul.com/story.html Salem Jazz and Soul Festival - Be a part of our mission: 'Great Music for a Greater Cause.'