New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Natixis Global Asset Management will revel in the power of jazz with music lovers of all ages during the legendary Newport Jazz Festival this July 31 to August 2. During the event, featuring three days of jazz on four different stages at beautiful Fort Adams
State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, Natixis will partner with the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. to make music education a central component of the festival.
Natixis, one of the world's leading asset managers, is a long-standing supporter and presenting sponsor of the Newport Jazz Festival for the fifth year in a row. During the event, Natixis will award scholarships to two graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated tremendous talent as jazz musicians.
These initiatives are part of Natixis' Jazz Ambassador Project, a series of events that celebrate jazz and give back to local communities. The Jazz Ambassador Project is part of Natixis' broader Ambassador Program, a community involvement initiative that supports fundamental social services, including healthcare, housing, education, mentoring, employee involvement, financial contributions, sharing resources and ideas.
"Jazz is an incredibly powerful art form, and I can think of no better venue to showcase its beauty, diversity and creativity than the Newport Jazz Festival," said John Hailer, president and chief executive officer of Natixis Global Asset Management in the Americas and Asia. "The Newport Jazz Festival is a world class celebration of jazz, and we're proud to provide young students and aspiring musicians with the opportunity to experience this tremendous event through our Jazz Ambassador Project."
"It's difficult to express the importance of the Jazz Ambassador Project as created by Natixis. Its influence goes much further than the awards to the two talented recipients this year," said
George Wein, Festival producer and chairman of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. "The support of Natixis and exposure at this international event can give these young people the incentive to continue their studies and move into the next phase of their life in music."
Natixis to bring more than 100
Boston and Newport students to Newport Jazz Festival
As part of the Jazz Ambassador Project and its commitment to music education, Natixis is partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs in Newport and the Berklee College of
Music in
Boston to bring more than 100 children to the Newport Jazz Festival on Friday, July 31.
During the event, students will have the opportunity to participate in The Jazz & Democracy Project® with project founder Dr.
Wesley "Dr. Wes" Watkins. Natixis' support will also enable students to experience a full day of jazz and meet one of the performers at the Newport Festival.
The Jazz & Democracy Project is an integrated curriculum that uses jazz as a metaphor to bring American democracy to life, enrich the study and teaching of U.S. history, government, civics and culture, and inspire youth to become active, positive contributors in their communities.
Natixis Awards Young Jazz Ambassadors with Scholarship
For the fifth year in a row, Natixis will also award $5,000 scholarships to two Jazz Ambassadors - graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated tremendous ability as jazz musicians and who exhibit a strong desire to enhance the world through their music.
The scholarship awards will be presented during the Newport Jazz Festival to Anton Derevyanko of Medfield, Massachusetts and Matthew Ethier of Harrisville, Rhode Island. Medfield Public Schools
Director of
Music Douglas Olsen says Derevyanko is an incredibly talented musician, and one of the top two jazz improvisers he's had the pleasure of teaching in his career.
"As a community, jazz musicians - and people in general - must individually follow the historical archetype of setting an example. Each individual makes the difference in the hierarchy of influence. It is the responsibility of each individual to work on bettering themselves not only as musicians, but as people," said Derevyanko, who was chosen to participate in the Massachusetts All-State Jazz Band during his sophomore and junior years. "When we reach a point where we can honestly tell ourselves that we are improving, it becomes possible for us to set an example to be followed."
Ethier is an incredibly versatile musician who has earned state, regional and national recognition for his performances, including consistently ranking as Rhode Island's highest-scoring student musician on baritone and trombone.
"I would like to move people through music. As a jazz musician, I believe the emotional component is amplified because of the personalized way jazz music is performed," said Ethier. "I would love to be someone's inspiration for music one day and help other people progress as musicians. That would be my ultimate goal as a musician."
