LAKE ANNA JAZZ is a non-profit Virginia corporation, established in 2021 to promote the appreciation and understanding of jazz, one of America’s greatest gifts to world culture, and to provide opportunities for the residents and guests near Lake Anna, Virginia, to enjoy live performances of jazz, in its many forms. LAKE ANNA JAZZ has the following educational mission:
• To celebrate the impact of
20th Century jazz on dance, literature, and other aspects of American popular culture
• To introduce younger members of the community to the rich body of musical recordings and compositions that constituted what has been nicknamed the “Great American Songbook” of the 20th Century
• To inform the general public of the key contributions made to jazz by African-Americans, and how it inspired individual innovators and brave pioneers to bring about the nation’s first successful, racially-integrated music ensembles
• To supplement the ability of resource-challenged local schools to convey to their students the history, highlights, and happiness of jazz
• To provide opportunities for local music students to experience jazz workshops and live professional performances in their own community
Additionally, LAKE ANNA JAZZ has the following charitable mission:
• To sponsor free concerts by professional jazz artists in venues around Lake Anna
• To provide scholarships for music students attending school in the surrounding counties (Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania) so that they may benefit from having free private instrumental or vocal lessons, focusing on jazz performance
• To sponsor free “swing jazz” dance events, open to the public, featuring live big bands, soloists, singers, and ensembles
The ultimate goal of LAKE ANNA JAZZ is to generate enough interest and funding to sponsor an annual Lake Anna Jazz Festival, bringing performers and audiences from across the country and overseas to share their love of the jazz art form, as they discover the natural beauty of Lake Anna, the hospitality of Virginia’s residents, the many nearby historic attractions, and the services offered by our local businesses.
