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GAIA and the Wynnefield Jazz Fest

Thu, 29 May 2025 16:03:59 GMT

GAIA Sponsors Wynnefield Jazz Fest:

A Free Celebration of Music, Community & Youth Talent

June 14, 2025 | 12–5 PM | Settlement Music School – Wynnefield Campus | Free Admission

GAIA is proud to sponsor and participate in Settlement Music School’s Wynnefield Jazz Fest, an uplifting, high-energy celebration of music, community, and the next generation of jazz talent. This free, family-friendly event brings students, educators, and professional musicians together on one stage, giving young performers a rare opportunity to play for the public and share their passion for jazz.

Held at Settlement’s Wynnefield campus at 4910 Wynnefield Avenue in Philadelphia from 12-5pm, the day will feature a full lineup of live performances, including:

The Wheeler Pre-Advanced Jazz Ensemble – rising student musicians taking the stage with energy and skill
The Helen K. Schwartz Advanced Scholarship Jazz Ensemble – showcasing some of the school's most accomplished young jazz artists
The Earl Phillips Big Band – a world-class ensemble led by the acclaimed conductor featuring special guest Tony Miceli of GAIA, performing the music of Terry Gibbs

GAIA’s mission is to make music and arts education accessible to all, empowering young talent and enriching communities around the world. Sponsoring this event reflects GAIA’s deep commitment to giving back, supporting Settlement Music School’s incredible work and making world-class jazz accessible to everyone, especially the students who live and breathe it.

To learn more about Settlement Music School’s programs and impact, visit www.settlementmusic.org .

GAIA Partners Again with Jazz'Muse in 2025 to Present Scholarships

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:59:03 GMT

(Pour voir cette page en Français, cliquez ici)

Following a very successful program in 2024, GAIA is renewing our partnership with Jazz'Muse, and our sponsorship of two scholarships during their upcoming 2025 workshops!

Jazz'Muse is a jazz course offering the opportunity for student instrumentalists, arrangers, and composers to collaborate in a magnificent setting with great masters of Jazz!

For its ninth edition, taking place July 13-21, 2025, Jazz'Muse will once again offer themes including hip-hop, Wayne Shorter, and Monk & Mingus, which will be studied over the course of a week starting one day apart. In addition, participants receive individual instrument lessons and/or personal project coaching, and participate in collective workshops in rhythm, harmony, standard and blues, musical culture and, if they wish, Iyengar Yoga.

Each session ends with a concert followed by nightly jams each evening. With outstanding speakers, a friendly team, local accommodations, Yoga classes, and beautiful surroundings, everything adds up to a warm and intense week of learning and fun!

GAIA is sponsoring two scholarships for students participating in the 2025 Jazz'Muse program in Champagne-en-Valromey.

Scholarship Award Process and Rules

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS JUNE 15, 2025
Two scholarships will be awarded based on auditions submitted electronically to GAIA. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out this form .
Students will pick two standards of their choice, and perform them with backing tracks or a live band.
The recording must be clear and free of extraneous noise or distortion.
The 2 standards selected must be in 2 different keys.
A panel of GAIA leaders and musicians will review submissions from students, and determine scholarship awards.
Each scholarship is valued at 750€ total.
The sum of 750€ covers the course, meals from the evening of 13th to the morning of 21st, as well as accommodation with local people. If the winners wish to stay in a gite (B&B for example), they will have to pay for this themselves.
Additional meals are at their own expense (13€/meal).
Membership of the Val'Muse association is not included in the scholarship, but will be invoiced (15€, valid for one year).
Val'Muse and GAIA reserve the right to share the scholarship between several candidates (maximum two per scholarship) if it is not possible to decide between the candidates.
Winners will participate in a mini concert (free of charge) for the local retirement home.
At the end of the masterclass, the winners will write a text describing their experience and the benefits of having been awarded a prize. They accept that their photos and videos taken during Jazz'Muse may be used for communication purposes by Val'Muse and GAIA.

A busy GAIA summer!

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:52:47 GMT

GAIA's summer has been packed with extensive support for events worldwide, beginning with the JazzMuse Workshop and Festival in France and the upcoming Steve Weiss Mallet Festival later this month. The Steve Weiss Mallet Festival is a five-day workshop dedicated to percussion mallet players, featuring five concerts that showcase some of the world's finest mallet artists, including Sasha Berliner, Warren Wolf, Christos Rafalides, and GAIA’s music director, Tony Miceli .

The primary objective of the Steve Weiss Festival is to make music accessible to people of all ages in Philadelphia, aligning closely with GAIA’s mission to leverage the arts and music to uplift education and communities worldwide. The festival includes a children's concert at the prestigious Barnes Foundation, and concerts at Settlement Music and Chris' Jazz Cafe. #jazz #music #ArtsEducation

Guanacaste Masterclass Tour

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 16:10:32 GMT

Beginning with a phenomenal fundraiser at Sofia including great food and the GAIA quartet, we worked with 6 high schools in 5 days, teaching the students to play by ear, as well as running master classes in jazz and organizing performances with the students for the student body. Many great connections were made with students and teachers. Thanks to everyone involved for your support in making this program a huge success!

In addition, we received some incredible feedback from the Ministry of Public Education and others on the week:

Good morning, dear GAIA Foundation Friends:

I know from @Sergio Morales Angulo that the GAIA tour in Guanacaste last week, has been a great success. I am so pleased and happy to read that. Thank you, Sergio, for sharing your feelings and emotions about it.

It is great to confirm that collaboration is probably the best way to accomplish our goals…

As an evaluator, it is very thrilling for me to share some of Sergio´s expressions, manifested by him in his message -you can read the original one in Spanish, below-. I want to highlight some of Sergio´s phrases, as a qualitative beautiful result of GAIA´s efforts and investment of talent, time and resources, last week in Costa Rica:

“...with great emotion and enthusiasm”

“…students and primary and secondary school teachers”

“...totally free”

“...It was a space for musical and personal growth”

“...a space where healthy coexistence was promoted, as well as the development and implementation of the various competencies that are enhanced by the educational processes of the Ministry of Public Education”

“… it allowed us to visualize young people inspired to continue their musical artistic growth”

“...Both students and teachers were truly inspired and moved to continue developing their potential”

“from the Liberia Regional Musical Education Advisory: to each one of you, my most sincere gratitude”

Phrases that teachers and students expressed during the week:

1. "This is another level."

2. "We must study more."

3. "We would like to go deeper into improvisation"

4. "We want more of this, to repeat it."

Thank you again, may you be blessed abundantly.

The 2024 M3 Rockfest!

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 14:55:23 GMT

For the second year running, GAIA was proud to partner with Child's Play and MTV to host a very special VIP area at the M3 Rockfest in Columbia, Maryland!

We appreciate everyone who braved the rain to join us for two days of awesome rock and roll from legendary performers - including our good friends from Child's Play. Thank you especially to all who donated so we can keep sharing the GAIA mission of using music and art to uplift education, communities, and well-being around the world!

Jazz is coming to Guanacaste!

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:44:31 GMT

We're getting ready to launch our May 2024 Masterclass Tour - and it all starts with an amazing concert at Sofia Mediterraneo on May 19th! Come and show your support, and enjoy an amazing evening of music and food with GAIA.

For more information and to make reservations, please visit Sofia Mediterraneo here .

Celebrate Detroit Comes To Avalon Village

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 10:53:22 GMT

GAIA Founder Charlotte Yates and The Avalon Village Founder Mama Shu on CBS Detroit!

On the morning of April 3rd, Charlotte Yates and Mama Shu discussed our upcoming "Celebrate Detroit" Program on CBS Detroit's morning news program.

See the segment here .

Below are pictures from the live event - enjoy!

GAIA Partners with Jazz'Muse to Present Scholarships

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 23:28:48 GMT

(Pour voir cette page en Français, cliquez ici)

GAIA is thrilled to announce our partnership with Jazz'Muse, and our sponsorship of two scholarships during their upcoming 2024 workshops!

Jazz'Muse is a jazz course offering the opportunity for student instrumentalists, arrangers, and composers to collaborate in a magnificent setting with great masters of Jazz!

For its eighth edition, taking place July 15-22, 2024, Jazz'Muse will once again offer themes including be-bop, Latin jazz, and composition, which will be studied over the course of a week starting one day apart. In addition, participants receive individual instrument lessons and/or personal project coaching, and participate in collective workshops in rhythm, harmony, standard and blues, musical culture and, if they wish, Iyengar Yoga.

GAIA is sponsoring two scholarships for students participating in the 2024 Jazz'Muse program in Champagne-en-Valromey.

Scholarship Award Process and Rules

Two scholarships will be awarded based on auditions submitted electronically to GAIA. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out this form .
Students will pick to standards of their choice, and perform them with backing tracks or a live band.
The recording must be clear and free of extraneous noise or distortion.
The 2 standards selected must be in 2 different keys.
A panel of GAIA leaders and musicians will review submissions from students, and determine scholarship awards.
Each scholarship is valued at €755 total.

CEN-CIINAIR Rio Seco Holiday Celebration!

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 16:54:17 GMT

GAIA founders bring the holiday spirit to Rio Seco!

Charlotte Yates and Todd Murray, the founders of GAIA, brought the spirit of Christmas to children and seniors in Rio Seco on Friday December 15th and Sunday December 17th. The two events, sponsored by GAIA, brought gifts, Santa, and an all-around holiday celebration to the community of Rio Seco. Many of the children participating had never experienced the magic of the holidays, making the event even more special.

From CEN-CIINAIR:

"By way of this letter, deep gratitude is given for the collaboration provided to our community and the preparation of such a beautiful Christmas activity for the boys and girls of CEN-CIINAIR Rio Seco who are eternally grateful and happy - since it is a vulnerable population with medium-low economic resources, in addition, the members of the committee and officials of CEN-CIINAIR thank you for this help."

Haverford High School and Settlement Music

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 02:06:33 GMT

The spirit of music and education united on December 14th at the Haverford High School Jazz event. GAIA, a proponent of nurturing young musical talent, made a generous sponsoring donation to support the event and further the cause of Settlement Music, a renowned institution dedicated to music education in the Philadelphia area.

The concert featured the esteemed faculty from Settlement Music, a musical powerhouse with five branches across the Philly area, making it one of Pennsylvania's largest employers of musicians. The event aimed to showcase the talent and opportunities offered by Settlement Music's Jazz Department, strategically targeting Haverford High School as a key audience for recruitment.

GAIA's mission aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the event and Settlement Music's overarching goal. GAIA is committed to bringing professional musicians to young, aspiring talents, bridging the gap between experience and potential. The sponsorship of the Haverford High School Jazz event reflects GAIA's dedication to providing guidance, answering questions, and offering direction to budding musicians.

Settlement Music's Jazz Department has long been a cornerstone of musical education in the Philadelphia region. With the support of GAIA and events like the one hosted at Haverford High School, Settlement Music aims to recruit talented students, fostering a new generation of jazz enthusiasts.

The GAIA-sponsored Haverford High School Jazz event stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between organizations dedicated to fostering musical talent. As Settlement Music continues to reach aspiring musicians through events like these, GAIA's support reinforces the shared commitment to empowering the next generation of musical prodigies. By uniting music education advocates and professionals, this event serves as a resonant note in the symphony of opportunities available to young musicians in the Philadelphia area.

For more information about Settlement Music and their programs, visit their website: Settlement Music.

GAIA and the Steve Weiss Malletfest

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 01:26:48 GMT

In the world of music, festivals serve as vibrant gatherings that bring together talent, passion, and the joy of shared melodies. The Steve Weiss Festival Mallet Festival, a week-long celebration, recently resonated with the support of GAIA, marking a harmonious collaboration that echoed through three unforgettable concerts and a transformative five-day workshop. In this blog post, we delve into the immersive experience of this musical extravaganza, featuring internationally acclaimed teachers and performers who have left their mark on stages across the globe.

The Steve Weiss Festival Mallet Festival received a generous donation from GAIA, highlighting the organization's commitment to fostering musical excellence and supporting the arts. This contribution played a pivotal role in ensuring the festival's success, enabling a rich array of performances and educational opportunities.

One of the festival's standout features was its stellar lineup of internationally known teachers and performers. The roster included luminaries such as Christos Rafalides, Jason Marsalis, Tony Miceli, Behn Gillece, Oliver Maymen, Justin Vibes, Lynn Vartan, the University of Delaware Percussion Department, Ivan Trevino, and the Temple University Percussion Ensemble. Each artist brought a unique perspective and a wealth of experience, creating an atmosphere of creativity and inspiration.

At the heart of the festival was a five-day workshop that provided a deep dive into the world of mallet percussion. Attendees had the privilege of participating in workshops and attending concerts led by the distinguished lineup of artists. The workshops covered a diverse range of topics, from technique and musicality to the nuances of performance and composition. This immersive learning experience left a lasting impact on participants, fostering a sense of community and shared passion for percussion.

The festival's concerts were held at iconic venues across Philadelphia, adding a touch of cultural richness to the musical experience. Settlement Music School in Queen Village, Chris' Jazz Cafe, and the Barnes Foundation served as the stages for these extraordinary performances. Audiences were treated to a mesmerizing blend of musical genres, showcasing the versatility of mallet percussion and the artistry of the featured performers.

The performances at the Steve Weiss Festival Mallet Festival were nothing short of extraordinary. From the intricate vibes of Christos Rafalides to the dynamic compositions of Ivan Trevino, each artist left an indelible mark on the festival. The University of Delaware Percussion Department and Temple University Percussion Ensemble showcased the depth of talent emerging from academic institutions, proving that the future of mallet percussion is in capable hands.

GAIA's support for the Steve Weiss Festival Mallet Festival brought forth a week of musical enchantment, uniting performers, educators, and enthusiasts in a celebration of percussion excellence. As the echoes of the festival linger, the impact of GAIA's generosity and the collective talent on display serve as a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire, connect, and elevate the human spirit. The Steve Weiss Festival Mallet Festival stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when passion and support converge in harmony.

GAIA, SINEM, and the Monge Foundation

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:43:00 GMT

Campamento de Canción por la Paz, 2023

GAIA was proud to participate and partner with SINEM and the Monge Foundation for the Song for Peace Camp, 2023. It was three days of intense activities, learning, living together, and the enjoyment of various artistic demonstrations for hundreds of students.

M3 Rock Festival

Fri, 05 May 2023 20:43:00 GMT

GAIA sponsors Child's Play VIP Experience and concert at M3!

GAIA was a key sponsor of the Child’s Play band VIP tent and experience at the 2023 M3 Rockfest, a three-day lineup of top rock acts from the 80s and 90s headlined by Styx. More than 25,000 fans attended M3 and over 1,000 visited the Child’s Play VIP tent.