The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) has announced that students from its flagship mentorship program, LPO ACADEMY, will make their official Jazz Fest debut this year in the Ochsner Children’s Tent on Thursday, May 1  from 11:30 a.m.  to 12:15 pm. This performance marks a milestone moment for the young musicians, who will showcase their talent alongside their mentors in a vibrant program of music celebrating heritage, creativity, and community.

“Our LPO Academy students have worked incredibly hard, and we are beyond proud to see them take the stage at Jazz Fest in the Ochsner Children’s Tent,” said Executive Director Anwar Nasir in a press release. “This debut is not only a celebration of their talent and dedication, but also a testament to the power of mentorship, access, and the transformative role music plays in young people’s lives. It’s an honor to have them represent the future of our musical community at such an iconic event.”

Taking the stage are twenty students representing Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies, St. Katherine Drexel Preparatory School, Riverdale High School, and Willow School.

The academy is an in-school music mentorship program that provides New Orleans youth the opportunity to intensively study instrumental music in one-on-one and small group settings with a Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Music Mentor. LPO mentors assist students with music theory, instrument technique, and other ways to connect with music and harness the mental, physical, and creative prowess critical to healthy youth development. In addition to weekly instruction, students in the program participate in performance opportunities in collaboration with students from other LPO Academy sites, in local festivals and/or LPO concerts. LPO Academy is made possible through the generosity of the Gia Maione Prima Foundation.