Live the Spirit Residency

Live the Spirit Residency began with the goal of serving the Englewood community by providing high quality, accessible, and inclusive jazz programing for undeserved audiences in this culturally rich neighborhood.  To achieve this we produce an annual jazz festival, host a resident jazz ensemble, and conduct performance and composition workshops with young musicians.  Moreover, by commissioning newly composed works for the resident ensemble we aspire to represent and celebrate the spirit of Englewood and the history and present of the black experience in Chicago.  

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Our organization began in 2000, we started an arts organization that would produce an annual music festival to present just that - local Chicago musicians and international guest artist performing their music in the community.  In addition, we established a residency big band and a workshop series.  These three activities - festival, young Masters and Senior band workshops - remain our core offerings each year. Our public programing in both the jazz festival and jazz education are provided free of charge, ensuring maximum participation and access. Furthermore, the organization's commitment to the Englewood community is maintained through an ongoing commissioning program which enables new musical works that represent the past, present, and future of Chicago's African American community.