Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews returns to the White House today to perform with students from the Batiste Cultural Arts Academy at Live Oak School for First Lady Michelle Obama at a first-ever White House talent show.

Photo by Kim Welsh

“I told the kids, ‘Right now, you are the most important ambassadors of New Orleans music because you are here representing your City in the most important place in the world,’” Andrews said in an email. “They are a little bit nervous, but I told them nerves come with any kind of amazing opportunity. I think they are going to be great.”

Andrews has been chosen as a “Turnaround Artist” as part of The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Turnaround Arts initiative, a program designed to help turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap, and increase student engagement through the arts.

Students from Turnaround Arts schools from across the nation will perform and showcase their work at the White House, joined by the Turnaround Artists who have been volunteering with their schools to support their arts education.

Along with Andrews, artists participating in today’s White House event include Sarah Jessica Parker, Chuck Close, John Lloyd Young, Damian Woetzel, George Wolfe, Alfre Woodard, Cristina Pato, Shane Shanahan and Kojiro Umezaki. Artists in attendance include Kerry James Marshall, Kal Penn, Frank Gehry, Clarence Greenwood from Citizen Cope, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Doc Shaw and Chad Smith.

Turnaround Arts is a successful PCAH pilot program to help turn around low-performing schools, narrow the achievement gap, and increase student engagement through the arts.