Builders of the Highway Foundation is proud to share that we operate the Neo Jazz School of Music in both New Orleans and Miami — a program with a track record that speaks for itself: more than two decades of teaching young people music, discipline, and community, in two of the country’s most musically rich cities.
More Than Two Decades of Music Education
The Neo Jazz School of Music has been providing quality music education to community youth since 2004, based out of the Neo Jazz Cultural Center in the heart of New Orleans’ 7th Ward. For over twenty years, the school has held to a simple but powerful mission: to enact a positive change in the youth of our community through an education in music and fine arts, and to provide cultural education, training, and diversity to our community.
That kind of longevity in youth arts education is rare. It reflects two decades of families trusting the program, students returning year after year, and a curriculum built to grow with every musician who walks through the door.
A Program Built to Grow With Every Student
Neo Jazz runs weekly and Saturday sessions throughout the year, with students placed into bands based on skill level — beginner, intermediate, or advanced — so every young musician is challenged at the right pace. Each semester builds toward a culminating recital, giving students a real performance to work toward and a moment to show families and the community what they’ve built.
For more experienced musicians, the program goes further, offering a track in music theory, composition, and harmony — helping students move from playing music to understanding and creating it.
From New Orleans to Miami
What started in New Orleans has grown. Neo Jazz now operates a second location in Miami, extending the same music education model to a new community of young musicians. Under the leadership of Executive Director Tamah Yisrael, the program has carried its founding mission across two cities without losing what made it work in the first place: consistency, structure, and genuine investment in every student who joins.
Why It Matters
Neo Jazz is a flagship program under BOTH Foundation’s Cultural Education & Youth Development pillar — proof of what consistent, community-rooted programming can build over time. Two decades of operation, two cities, and a curriculum designed to meet every student where they are: that’s the kind of track record we’re proud to build on.
Want to learn more about Neo Jazz or get involved? Visit our City Hubs page to see what’s happening in New Orleans and Miami, or head to Get Involved to support programs like this one.
Builders of the Highway Foundation 