Community Corner
Helping Hands: Mitch Glickman
The Co-Music Director of the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra helps kids find their beat.
Name: Mitch Glickman, Culver City resident
Volunteer Affiliation: Co-Music Director of the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra
How long have you been a volunteer? I created the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra in 2001 and serve as Co-Music Director along with keyboardist and composer George Duke. While I do run the SJO, it is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors of which I am president.
What needs does your chosen organization fill? The 67-member Symphonic Jazz Orchestra is dedicated to the unique American musical genre of symphonic jazz--music that combines jazz and classical music. We perform newly commissioned works in concert, including an upcoming concert on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Royce Hall UCLA, that features the orchestra with special guests George Duke, Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza and guitarist/singer Raul Midon.
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The SJO also has an active Community Outreach Program which includes school residencies, workshops, master classes and assemblies across Los Angeles County.
What is the most rewarding part of being a volunteer? To date, the SJO has served over 20,000 young people and their families through our Community Outreach Program. From yearlong school residencies to special student concerts, we have brought some of L.A.'s finest musicians to young people to expose them to the beauty and excitement of live music, teach them about jazz and classical music, and plant musical seeds that will last a lifetime.
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What is the city's most important issue? In 2006, the SJO was awarded a grant from the California Arts Council to pilot a music residency in the schools. As a longtime Culver City resident, I first approached Inez Bush, Culver City Unified's Arts Coordinator, to see if we can make this new program work for the local elementary schools.
What started off as a 2nd grade program for two schools has grown to where we now serve all five elementary schools in a number of residencies and workshops for all the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students in CCUSD covering music appreciation, music theory, music history, introduction to the instruments, and even composition.
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