NEC Alumni Attend and Teach at the 21st Annual Panama Jazz Festival

Published on January 30, 2024

Earlier this month, several NEC Alumni took part in the 21st Annual Panama Jazz Festival. For over a decade, NEC's Jazz Studies department and Community Performances & Partnerships (CPP) program have collaborated with the festival to help further our jazz students' education. All funds raised at the Panama Jazz Festival contribute to the musical and cultural education projects developed throughout the year by the Danilo Pérez Foundation.

During this six-day festival, faculty, alumni, and students taught classes, participated in workshops, attended performances, and took to the stage themselves. Trio Gaia members, Andrew Barnwell ’20, ’23 MM, ’24 GD, Yi-Mei Templeman ’22, ’23 GD, ’24 MM, and Grant Houston ’20, ’23 MM, ’25 GD, along with alumna Julia Connor ’16 MM, had the opportunity to teach students and make music during their time in Panama.