Miami Internatinal Jazz Fest

Miami International Jazz Fest (MIJF) is presented over the course of three days at public venues. The logo of MIJF highlights Florida as an epicenter for a music whirlwind expanding around the world attracting international artists and tourists. The festival has attracted a diverse artist lineup in its four years of operations, including 6-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter/conguero, Jerry Gonzalez, The Allen Harris Band, Haitian percussion ensemble Mozayik, the Omar Sosa trio, and the extremely talented Curtis Bros. featuring Ralph Peterson.

Idle Hands Program is a program in development that currently offers free music workshops to students, age 16-19, enrolled in a music program in Miami-Dade County as well as free tickets to the performances. These students will then be incorporated into the yearly jazz festival as backstage and front of house interns to experience what it takes to produce as well as perform in the music business. The ultimate goal is to give students an opportunity to connect with music professionals and teach them what a career in the music business can offer--to inspire them to be active in their pursuance of music and explore different styles. Students are currently recruited from Title 1 school music programs through teachers and area commissioners as well as via non-profit arts organizations.