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A Series of
Jenkins Jazz Projects
"A SERIES OF JENKINS JAZZ PROJECTS" is a dynamic tribute celebrating the rich legacy of Jenkins' jazz history while paving the way for its vibrant future. Through a series of performances, workshops, and community events, this initiative honors the sounds of the past and inspires the next generation of local jazz artists.
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Jenkins Jazz Heritage Project
Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future
The Jenkins Jazz Heritage Project is a powerful cultural and educational initiative of the Jenkins Youth and Family Village—formerly known as the historic Jenkins Orphanage. Founded in 1891 by Rev. Daniel Joseph Jenkins, the Jenkins Orphanage became a national treasure, nurturing African American children while launching one of the most influential jazz legacies in American music history. The Jenkins Orphanage Band gained international acclaim, producing legendary musicians and shaping the early sounds of jazz through their performances across the U.S. and Europe.
Building on that extraordinary legacy, the Jenkins Jazz Heritage Project is designed to educate, empower, and elevate today’s youth through the arts. By offering immersive programs in music history, performance, and cultural literacy, this initiative provides young people with a direct connection to their heritage and a platform for creative expression. Students learn not only the fundamentals of music but also the stories of the trailblazing artists who came before them—many of whom got their start at Jenkins.
At the heart of the project is the Jenkins Jazz Concert Series, a vibrant, ongoing celebration of the Jenkins Orphanage Band's enduring influence. These live performances feature local and national talent, showcase student musicians, and serve as a fundraiser and awareness campaign to support youth education and programming at Jenkins. Each concert is both a tribute to the past and a call to invest in the future of our community’s youth.
Through the Jenkins Jazz Heritage Project, the Jenkins Youth and Family Village continues its proud tradition of transforming lives—one note, one story, and one student at a time.