JAZZ PERFORMANCE AND
EDUCATION CENTRE

JPEC recognizes and supports all under-represented individuals,
including Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.

JPEC STARS AT CCAT LUNCH

Tre Michel, Andrew Stuart, Sonia Marville-Carter, Tracy Ramsubugh-Manette, Eddie Bullen, Gerry Hopkins

The Consular Corps Association of Toronto played host and JPEC played the music. On Dec 12, for the second year in a row, jazz trio led by Eddie Bullen, Tre Michael and Andrew Stuart entertained this prestigious group of international leaders at their holiday luncheon. Special guest Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, welcomed the guests to our great city.

A special thank you goes out to JPEC’s Director Maria Micsia whose photos captured the wonderful party mood of the event.
Events

Toronto Jazz Magazine Great Coverage of JPEC Student Mentorship Workshop
Jazz Mentorship Workshop

Toronto Jazz Magazine Nov, 2023
JPEC Mentorship page

Watch for details of next year's student workshop.

URGENT - Volunteers /Directors Wanted
Due to JPEC’s expanding initiatives, we require volunteers for various aspects of program creation and implementation. If interested, send a brief message to: [email protected]

Keeping Jazz Alive
JPEC is proud to present an addition to our popular “Keeping Jazz Alive“ Series, a jazz video by Alex Bird (v) and Ewen Farncombe (p). Enjoy!
Link

Jazz Student Scholarship Fund Winners - 2022
The Rochelle Koskie Jazz Student Scholarship Fund has awarded $2,500 to each of the following student musicians in recognition of their creative jazz compositions:
- Teri Parker, York University
- Sean Irvine ,University of Toronto
- Jacob Diamond, Humber College
- Arend Tigchelaar, Mohawk College
Link

Canadian Teacher Magazine
Online Music Programs
JPEC

The Jazz Performance and Education Centre (JPEC) develops music programs for kids. (Link)

JPEC CELEBRATES 15 YEARS

Clockwise from left: Sandy Thomas, Geoff Belchetz, Bill McDonald, Nancy Miller, Maria Miscia, Bruce Buttimore, Gabriele Stitz, and President Ray Koskie. (Missing is Michelle Chann)

October, 2023 marked 15 years since Ray and Rochelle Koskie launched their dream of a Jazz Performance and Education Centre, a charity dedicated to keeping jazz alive.

Rochelle Koskie

Photo courtesy of Barry Thomson

To celebrate, the Board met for lunch and talked about “the old days”. With both new and long-time directors telling stories, two activities took place of pride - the great concerts JPEC has presented (over 100) and the success of the School Workshop Program that Rochelle started over 10 years ago.
After Rochelle passed, the Workshop program became the baby of Director, Sandy Thomas who has expanded the program with new schools and new ideas for workshops and concerts for children.
Plans for the future were then discussed with enthusiasm, including new concerts, new alliances and new people.
A fine time was had by all.

Kids Beat
JPEC's WORKSHOP SERIES
Sandra Thomas

Sandy Thomas,
JPEC's Outreach Director,

What Music Means for Kids
JPEC is fortunate to meet directly with students in schools to bring them exciting, interactive jazz programs. We know that music does more than entertain—that many experts have shown how it affects the brain in much the same way that physics does Link.
But sometimes for a child, it's just entertainment. Here's what a group of students said about a JPEC in-school workshop headed by one of JPEC's regular instructors, Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo.

- "I like the stories that the teacher told…they were very inspiring."
- "Sometimes listening to teachers is not very interesting, but when Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo told us what we will do, and in general how he approached, it was very cool and it was interesting to listen to him."
- “I was really interested and felt engaged."
- "I enjoyed it very much and would like to do it again."
- "I felt happy and excited because of Joaquin's positive energy going through (the) room."
- "It was very fun and interactive. I really enjoyed it and how everyone had to work together."
- "I felt excited as it is not everyday that you meet someone as talented as Mr. Nunez."

Jazz Drums and More

JPEC is thrilled to present and offer to all school teachers, a very exciting online Education Outreach program for K-12 students. Link

New KidsBeat Series: "What is Jazz?", for kids ages 10 to 12.
A new Series produced for JPEC by Tim Shia, noted jazz musician, composer, for kids 10 to 12 years old, tracing the history and sounds of Jazz from its very beginnings.

Workshop #1: Jazz is What? Link

Workshop #2: What is Improvisation? Link

Workshop #3: What are Some Jazz Styles? Link

Workshop #4: What Makes Improvisation Possible? Link

Drumming with Mr. Chris for Grades K to 5 featuring online percussion classes with instruments you can make in your own home.

Workshop #1: Make your own Drumming Kit Link

Workshop #2: Using your voice Link

Workshop #3: Different sounds from the same drum Link

JPEC presents a video prepared by Carn Davidson 9 and 1Vision Production studio.

The Gift (by William Carn) can be seen and heard here.

Try Again (by William Carn) can be seen and heard here.

Code Breaking (by William Carn) can be seen and heard here.

Click here Events to find out how they did it.

JPEC Moves Forward
After 15 years, JPEC is looking for a new top person. Ray Koskie, President says: "It’s time to take time for myself. I’d like to stay involved with JPEC, but just not handling all the administration."
With this announcement, JPEC is looking for someone who has a love of jazz and experience, particularly maintaining relationships with donors, governments, musicians and the jazz community.
If you’re interested, please contact [email protected]

Keeping Jazz Alive

Even though the pandemic has declined, JPEC continues to showcase emerging talent in the Toronto area as part of our commitment to newer musicians and trends. Following are the latest groups to be featured in Keeping Jazz Alive.
More

Alex Bird and Ewen Farncombe

Alex Bird (singer) and Ewen Farncombe (pianist): Link

Virginia MacDonald and Lucian Gray

Virginia MacDonald (clarinet) and Lucian Gray (guitarist): Link

Diana Panton Trio
Rwg Schwager
Diana Panton (vocalist), Don Thompson (piano) and Reg Schwager (guitar): Link

Luis Deniz and Teri Parker

Presenting saxophonist Luis Deniz and pianist Teri Parker: Link

Laura Anglade and
Jonathan Chapman
Jonathan Chapman and Laura Anglade
Jazz vocalist Laura Anglade is currently making a name for herself on the Canadian jazz scene and Jonathan Chapman is an award winning bassist, composer and band leader: Link

Majoko and Marzotto
Joe Sealy and Dom Thompson
As part of JPEC’s mandate to feature emerging jazz artists, we are thrilled to present as part of this ongoing video Series, the exciting vocalist, Joanna Majoko, accompanied by the wonderful guitarist, Andrew Marzotto.
Joanna has appeared at many Toronto events, including the 2020 Toronto Online Summer Festival, presented by Toronto Jazz Festival and JAZZ.FM91.
To read more about these artists and to watch their video recorded specially for JPEC , please visit the link: Link

Kalabash
A Toronto based contemporary jazz sextet that features some of the finest jazz musicians in the City, a true "Art" project, performing two original Afro Cuban jazz pieces and a Don Grolnick jazz standard for this series. Link

Alexander Brown Trio
Alexander Brown (trumpet), Bernie Senensky (piano), Dave Young (bass) Link

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Jazz Performance and Education Centre

Officially incorporated in 2008 as a non-profit charitable organization, JPEC was born when jazz aficionados Raymond and Rochelle Koskie assembled a committee of fellow enthusiasts, who, over the course of 10 years has committed itself to jazz by:

- Petitioning for a full-time, non-profit performing Music/Arts Hub in Toronto, including a detailed plan as to how this could benefit Toronto.
- Coordinating the support of a group of non-profit arts organizations towards this goal.
- Solidifying an education outreach program that sends musicians to conduct workshops in schools with little or no music program.
- Presenting over 50 concerts in the past decade to a strong jazz fan base.