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Stories of Impact: JazzArts Charlotte

By JazzArts Charlotte

JazzArts Charlotte, founded in 2009 by Lonnie Davis, is the premier jazz organization in the Carolinas. JazzArts’ mission is to connect the cultural community and develop an audience for jazz through quality education, performance excellence, and musician support. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, JazzArts has flourished into one of the city’s most celebrated nonprofit arts and education institutions. The organization engages thousands of students and audience members annually with its diverse range of educational and performance-based programs. JazzArts also supports over 100 local and regional musicians each year.

Since 2011, JazzArts Charlotte has provided jazz education to over 50,000 students across the Charlotte region through programs like Youth Ensembles + Workshops, Nuestro Tiempo Latin Jazz Youth Orchestra, Summer Music Camp, Jazz in Schools, and early childhood classes like WeBop. Serving students from K-12, these programs introduce students to jazz history, performance techniques, and improvisation, while fostering a love for the art form among diverse age groups. Inspired by a need to enhance access to quality arts education, particularly for underserved and Latinx communities, JazzArts has applied for a grant to expand its offerings.

The generous grant from WIF allows JazzArts to increase accessibility by providing free workshops, unique experiences for students, new scholarship opportunities, and making high-quality jazz education and performance available to students and audiences across socio-economic backgrounds. This support strengthens partnerships with the community, extends JazzArts’ reach, and deepens its impact as a bridge between jazz and new audiences.

The grant award is enabling JazzArts Charlotte to reach its goals of expanding access to jazz education and performance across the Charlotte region, particularly in underserved communities. A few educational program highlights include: 

    • Youth Ensembles + Workshops:
        • Achieved the highest enrollment in a Fall session to date.

        • Ensemble performances at The Cypress of Charlotte, bringing jazz to a retirement community.

        • Upcoming appearances at the December JAZZ ROOM Holiday Edition, showcasing A Charlie Brown Christmas.

    • Nuestro Tiempo Latin Jazz Youth Orchestra:
        • Over 50% of enrolled students now identify as Hispanic or Latino.

        • Selected to perform at the NC Music Educators Association Conference in Winston-Salem.

        • Public performance at the Día de Muertos Festival hosted by the Latin American Coalition.

Additional achievements included launching JazzArts’ first Merit-Based Scholarship award and transporting an ensemble of students to the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in January. JEN is an international jazz organization, and the conference provides a unique experience for students to learn from world-renowned jazz musicians and meet like-minded peers. 

As we look ahead, JazzArts envisions building a robust endowment to make more educational programs free for students, ensuring universal access to quality music education. Our priority is operational sustainability, long-term resilience, and deepening our community impact. We are committed to expanding our partnerships and continuing to broaden our reach through collaborations with local institutions.

Those interested in supporting JazzArts can volunteer at events, serve on committees, or provide financial support to help us sustain and grow our offerings. Donations of any size help provide free and affordable programs, ensuring continued access for all. In honor of JazzArts Charlotte’s 15th anniversary, we’ve launched the 15 for 15 giving campaign, running from October 2024 to October 2025. We invite supporters to celebrate this milestone by contributing an additional gift in multiples of 15—whether it’s $15, $150, $1,500, or even $15,000. Every contribution helps us continue enriching lives through jazz for the next 15 years and beyond. 

Together, let’s continue enriching lives through jazz. For more information or to donate, visit JazzArts Charlotte’s website


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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.