Cultural Whirl

The past two years have been life-changing on so many levels. The COVID-19 pandemic left artists in a quandary. Earning became impossible, since restaurants, night clubs, theaters, concert halls, and most other venues where music is performed closed down for over a year. Some went out of business. So many musicians died. I counted many among the 55 departed souls that I knew, who are gone. Good things happened and I keep my eyes on the prize. To tell the stories of innovative musicwomen and musicmen, we published two annual issues each of Musicman and Musicwoman Magazines. www.musicwomanmagazine.com - www.musicmanmagazine.com         www.wijsf.org  

www.wijsf.org

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Community Composers join Parkway Middle School Jazz Band and Vocal Ensemble at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, through a Broward Schools SEAS Grant on Monday, November 21, 2011, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Arrangements of songs by Joan Cartwright by Dr. Malcolm Black Arrangement of Stumpblocker by Arthur James Wilscon Arrangement of Light The Way by Paul Banman

At four senior centers in Miami Beach, Community Musicwomen performed on January 26, 27 and 29, 2011, through a grant from Miami Beach Arts Gala. The musicians included Kim J on Sax, Keyboard and EWI; Crystal Sawyer The Lady of Harp; Parkway Middle School Vocal Ensemble led by Lorna Lesperance; Joan Cartwright and Melody Cole; and Joan Cartwright and Jazz Hotline with Paul Banman on keyboards and Anthony Turner on bass. The seniors appeared to be having a wonderful time and many of them asked when we were coming back! This program is presented by Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes women musicians, globally. Click here for all photos .

Though music in school is become very scarce, there are some schools still offering kids the great musical experience. Parkway Middle School in Lauderhill, Florida, is one of those schools. On Saturday, October 24, 2010, Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc. produced the Lauderhill Jazz Jam , featuring the Jazz Band and Vocal Ensemble from Parkway Middle School. The band is led by sax man Melton Mustafa, Jr. and the vocal ensemble is led by Lorna Lesperance. These kids blew the audience away and will be our pet project for years to come. See photos at http://wijsf.com/photos.htm Also featured were Sons of MyStro with Umoja and Malcolm McNeish on violins and Jamel Morris-Bailey on guitar. Watch videos of Joan Cartwright and Jazz Hotline and Eugene Grey and Company . Joan Cartwright Executive Director http://www.wijsf.org/

On March 26, 2009, the IRS approved the 501(c)(3) status of WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC., a non-profit, educational organization that promotes women musicians, globally, through events, concerts, performances, clinics, lectures, workshops, articles, interviews, newsletters, courses, contacts, research, history, archives, websites, film, audio and video recording, and recognition. For contact information and details on our sponsorship proposal go to this link: SPONSOR WIJSF, INC.