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News Archive

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St. Vincent Academy

December 2021 -    Mariah Bishop, a student attending St. Vincent Academy was awarded a scholarship by the Gia Maione Prima Foundation.  At a young age, Ms. Bishop’s began creating art.  Her pre-existing skills and  tools learned in her  drawing program has helped her expand into digital artwork where she now uses watercolor.

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The NOCCA Institute – Home for the Holidays

December 2021 -   GMPF is proud to sponsor the 17th Annual Home for the Holidays.  The event is an annual fundraising concert in support of the  Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).   This year’s performances included Irma Thomas, John Boutte, Trombone Shorty and Friends, Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Soul Rebels and Anders Osborne.  The Daniel Price Memorial Fund provides a college scholarship to one outstanding NOCCA Visual Arts student each year and provides financial assistance for Visual Arts and Music students at NOCCA through the NOCCA Foundation’s  Student Success Program.

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Tunes for Toys Concert 

December 2021 -   The Gia Maione Prima Foundation sponsored the 2021 Tunes for Toys Concert held on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at the Warren Easton High School.  The event presided by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews along with live performances by the young Academy students as well as New Breed Brass Band with Trombone Shorty  and the Warren Easton High School Marching Bands, Choir and Units.  The event was hosted by Tonya Boyd-Cannon.  Admission was free to the public in exchange for a new toy that was given the following day to New Orleans youth at the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s “Toys from Troy” event.

 

Click here to learn more about the Tunes for Toys event

 

Click here to read about the Tunes for Toys Holiday concert 

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Count Basie Center for the Arts

November 2021 -   The opening of the “Prima Lobby” located in the second floor space of the Grunin Arts and Education Building at the Count Basie Center, Red Bank, New Jersey is scheduled to take place November 14, 2021.  Performances by Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses and Prima Foundation Scholar Jeffery Miller are scheduled.  The Prima Lobby will highlight the GMP Foundation’s importance of American Jazz, American popular music, jazz performance and the fine arts.  The opening of the Prima Lobby is part of a $27 million expansion of the Count Basie Center to create a world-class creative campus for art education, culture and performing arts.

 

Click here to read the opening of the Prima Lobby

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Max’s Kansas City

October 2021 -  Yvonne Sewall was reported in a publication regarding the  philanthropic mission of Max’s Kansas City.  In 2001, the non-profit was established to continue the legacy of good deeds of the famed Mickey Ruskin.  It’s mission is to aid struggling artists with emergency relief in need of housing, medical and legal aid.  It’s program FEARLESSYOUth focuses on helping with substance abuse and suicide prevention for teens.   The Gia Maione Prima Foundation has committed to a multi-year grant supporting the programs of Max’s Kansas City Foundation. 

Click here to read news article re Max’s Kansas City

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2021 Shorty Fest

October 2021 -  GMPF has partnered with the Trombone Shorty Foundation to sponsor the 2021 Shorty Fest.      The event will feature performances by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue along with Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, The Soul Rebels, Cimafunk, and special guests Tarriona “Tank” Ball, and the students of the Trombone Shorty Academy.  An outdoor street festival will also feature live music by New Orleans Nightcrawlers, New Breed Brass Band, Big Chief Juan Pardo & the Golden Commanches, and the Warren Easton High School Marching Band. A Walk of Fame induction ceremony will honor Cyril Neville.  All proceeds support the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s educational programs that include traditional jazz music education, instruction,  mentorship and performance designed to provide opportunities for the next generation of NOLA jazz artists.

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WWOZ – Jazz Festing in Place: An On-Air Festival

September 2021 -   GMPF announced the sponsorship of 2022 WWOZ Jazz Festing in Place.  The On-Air Festival broadcasts include Jazz Festival in Place held in October 2021, Jazz Festing during the traditional spring weekends of the festival in 2022, WWOZ’s Piano Night and Groovapedia.  Each broadcasts celebrates New Orleans music, heritage and culture.   Additionally, the sponsorship recognizes  GMPF as the flagship sponsor of School Groove program.

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Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival

September 2021 -   On September 18, 2021, the Gia Maione Prima Foundation sponsored the annual Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival located on the Morristown Green which is located in the center of the Morristown, New Jersey.  The festival featured musicians performing from noon until 10:00 PM.  Performing artists included Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, Swingadelic, The Frank Vignola Trio, Winard Harper and Jeli Posse and Rob Paparozzi’s Juke Joint.

Click here to learn more about the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival 

Click here to read article regarding Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival

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Army Distaff Foundation

September 2021 -   As part of a multi-year commitment, the GMPF proudly sponsored the Gift of Music program benefitting the residents of Knollwood Military Retirement Community which is operated by the Army Distaff Foundation. In conjunction with the sponsorship, Louis Prima, Jr. and the Witnesses will be performing on September 17, 2021.

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Asbury Park Music Foundation

August 2021 - GMPF is sponsoring the Asbury Park Music Foundation Youth Music Program.  The program “Music Mondays” offers free concerts throughout the summer.  The series of concerts offer diverse styles of music.  The series is part of Asbury Park Music Foundation’s goal to unite the community, support local musicians and inspire under-served youth with life changing music education.    In conjunction with the sponsorship, performances by Louis Prima, Jr. and the Witnesses and NOCCA/Prima Foundation Scholar Jeffery Miller will be held on  July 19th and August 16th.

Click here to learn more about the Asbury Park Music Foundation “Music Mondays”

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Warren Easton Charter High School Foundation

July 2021 - The GMPF will sponsor the 2021 Warren Easton High School Summer Camp as part of a multi-year commitment.  The four week summer program will offer students music instruction in jazz, marching band and concert band. Specialized instruction will include a NOCCA/Prima Foundation Scholar Glenn Hall of the Rebirth Brass Band, Julian Gosin, Scott Johnson, Eddie Thomas, Manuel Perkins and Revon Andrews.

Warren Easton High School Summer Camp Photos:

Warren Easton High School Summer Camp Videos:

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Jazz Arts Project

July 2021 - The GMP Foundation is sponsoring Jazz Arts Project whose education and scholarship programs provide tools for future generations by introducing jazz to a diverse student population with an emphasis towards at-risk and underserved youth.  Jazz Arts Project offers a middle school summer music camp and produces Jazz in the Park, a free jazz concert held in Riverside Gardens Park located in Red Bank, New Jersey.  In conjunction with the sponsorship, Jeffery Miller Quartet will perform on July 22, 2021 at Jazz in the Park Kick-off Party.

Click here to read article found in Trinews.com

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Count Basie Center for the Arts

July 2021 - GMPF has partnered with Count Basie Center for the Arts and Red Bank’s Jazz Arts Project for a free, two week summer music camp for students interested in jazz music.  The Louis and Gia Maione Prima Music Camp will take place during the weeks of July 12 and July 19, 2021.  The summer program is available to 3rd through 8th grade students throughout Monmouth County.  The program will give the opportunity for hands-on instruction to young musicians from experienced music educators.  Specialized instruction will be offered by Jeffery Miller, 2013 scholar of the ASCAP Foundation Louis Prima Award.

Click here to read Press Release regarding the Louis and Gia Maione Prima Music Camp

2021 The Louis & Gia Maione Prima Music Camp

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Warren Easton Charter High School Foundation

June 2021 - The GMP Foundation sponsored the 2021 Warren Easton High School Summer Camp as part of a multi-year commitment.  The four week summer program will offer students music instruction in jazz, marching band, choreography, concert band and percussion.   Specialized instruction will include a NOCCA/Prima Foundation Scholar Glenn Hall of the Rebirth Brass Band, Scott Johnson, Kirk Mathis, Raymond Ellison, Julian Gosin, Manuel Perkins and Revon Andrews.  ​

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New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts

June 2021 - Two students of the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, an institution dedicated to the advancement of the fine arts, received awards sponsored by the GMP Foundation.   Susan Hufft received the Auseklis Ozols Scholarship and Duane Couch received the Dorothy J. Coleman, Patron of the Arts Award. 

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Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra/Music for Life Program

June 2021 - The Music for Life program provided lessons to 40 students at five schools during the 2020-2021 school year.  A final performance was held in-person in City Park on May 8, 2021.  On-line music education lessons were provided to low-income and undeserved students in the New Orleans community. The program is designed to mentor students by orchestra musicians, develop life skills, and provide positive role models. All instrument and program costs are free to all participating students.  The Music for Life Program also offered a four week summer in-person camp commencing on June 21, 2021.