Educational Programs

The cornerstone of the Festival is its educational programs. Led by Les DeMerle, the Festival's artistic director, programs include:

Jazz in the Schools 
Featuring workshops for grade school, middle school, and high school students, more than 2,000 area students attend these workshops each year. Jazz Scholarships  Each year, the Festival's educational programs culminate in the Amelia Island Jazz Scholarship. This financial award goes to deserving high school musicians who demonstrate strong potential to perform jazz at the collegiate level.

The Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis to a graduating high school senior. The scholarship will be used toward college expenses necessary to earn a major or minor in music, preferably in the area of jazz performance or related area. It is the desire of the Jazz Festival Board to help preserve Jazz, this all American art form, by helping young, talented artists who are pursuing their dream of becoming jazz musicians. For additional information concerning the scholarship and/or an application please contact the Board of Directors by writing to:
Les DeMerle Amelia Island Jazz Festival
P.O. Box 16684 -- Fernandina Beach, FL 32035

Just as the Festival encourages young performers to pursue careers in jazz, it also offers a rich cultural experience for more mature audiences.

Jazz for Seniors  
Consisting of demonstrations and informative programs at senior centers, over 500 seniors were entertained at last year's Festival.

This type of participation, including the nearly 1,000 area residents who attended last year's public performances, clearly demonstrates that people of all ages and backgrounds want to hear and learn about jazz. The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council recognized the importance of the Jazz Festival by awarding a $5,000 grant in support of the 2007 festival. And, the 2008 Jazz Festival is under consideration for a similar grant.

This kind of financial support validates our belief that the Amelia Island Jazz Festival benefits our community, both culturally and economically.