Mission
To create, and support access to quality jazz education for Minnesota youth.
About MJE
Minnesota Jazz Education (MJE) is a 501(c)(3) arts education organization that was founded in 1997. MJE has provided opportunities for young jazz artists to learn and experience jazz music in new ways, while engaging and employing community artists and educators from across the Twin Cities community, and Greater Minnesota.
The organization is operated by a volunteer working board and one contracted staff member. In an average year, we employ up to 20 teaching artists and engage hundreds of Twin Cities students through our programs. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Our Programs
‘Experience Jazz’ is a genre-bridging music ensemble program launched in 2017 for instrumentalists, vocalists, rappers and DJs, with a goal of fostering creativity and collaboration by bringing together aspiring artists from diverse backgrounds with a common desire to make new music rooted in jazz, blues, pop and hip-hop. Presented in partnership with High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) this program runs weekly for several weeks in the spring semester. Students rehearse together in HSRA’s state-of-the-art Studio 4.
Jazz Artists in the Schools and Community (JAISC), which connects professional artists and educators with students for music residencies.
Community-wide workshops, which bring together students from across the community to advance their skills in a specific aspect of jazz music (e.g., improvisation, piano skills)
Youth performance opportunities, such as the Youth Stage at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, which offer multiple chances for area bands and combos to play in front of real audiences.
Learn more about MJE programs.
Our Identity
MJE was formerly known as The Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education (DFJE), which was inspired by, but completely independent from, the Dakota Jazz Club. The Dakota Combo was a part of our program for many years, and continues as a free combo experience for Twin Cities jazz students at MacPhail Center for Music.
PLEASE NOTE: MJE is not, and has never been associated with the entity currently using the web address https://dakotafoundationforjazzeducation.org.