The FEDUJAZZ music program currently provides 150 local children with free, ongoing music education and training in the new center in Cabarete, including classes in guitar, drums, piano and now violin.
FEDUJAZZ music programs are being expanded in December 2015 to include the 73 children currently on the waiting list for their free music programs. The programs will be divided into five age groups: 7 to 8 year olds, 8 to 9 year olds, 10 to 11 year olds, 12 to 14 year olds and 15 to 18 year olds.
The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival announced an exciting alliance with the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. Matt Marvuglio, Dean of the Performance Division at Berklee College of Music, and Marco Pignataro, Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, will join the Artistic Advisory Board for the festival, beginning with selection of artists for the 2016 event. Mr. Marvuglio and Mr. Pignataro will also serve as advisors to FEDUJAZZ, the music education foundation of the festival, which provides free music education for youth of the Dominican Republic.
Over one thousand five hundred schoolchildren from the North Coast of the Dominican Republic attended educational music workshops held with the renowned musicians performing at the jazz festival. Musicians participating included three-time GRAMMY Award winning bass player John Patitucci, GRAMMY award winning Saxophone player David Sanchez, GRAMMY Award nominee percussionist Pedrito Martinez, Javier Vargas, Mario Canonge, Roy Assaf, Manuel Tejada, Berklee Global Jazz Institute with Marco Pignataro, and Josean Jacobo.
