NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM TO UNVEIL STATE OF THE ART PERFORMANCE CENTER WITH RIBBON CUTTING

NEW ORLEANS – On Wednesday, March 12, at 2 p.m., the New Orleans Jazz Museum will celebrate the completion of a six-month process to modernize its third-floor Performance Center. The extensive renovation was made possible by a $5 million capital matching grant through the Herb Alpert Foundation awarded in January 2024. Renovations of the museum's performance center will provide guests with an immersive music experience via the most current ATMOS surround sound system. This upgrade provides exceptional audio equipment and allows engineers to master and restore, in-house, many musical media already in the collection.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will join Acting State Museum Director Becky Mackie, New Orleans Jazz Museum Director Greg Lambousy, and Chamber of Commerce officials for a ribbon cutting to culminate the completion of the project. Representatives of Trapolin-Peer Architects, Ryan Gootee General Contractors, LLC, and AOS Interior Environments will also participate. A concert featuring the NOLA Jazz Museum Band with Detroit Brooks will follow.

"Through the completion of this project, the New Orleans Jazz Museum continues to position itself as a leader in the development of music education, cultural exchange, and community outreach. We are excited to work with the Herb Alpert Foundation to promote Louisiana's rich musical history and culture to visitors around the world. We look forward to completion of the next phase – the Herb Alpert Education Wing," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.

"The Herb Alpert Foundation has been a strong supporter of the New Orleans Jazz Museum for several years. From early planning to presenting sponsorships for the annual Improvisations Gala and many educational initiatives, Herb Alpert has been a leader and advocate for nurturing creativity and highlighting its importance in the current artistic and cultural landscape," said New Orleans Jazz Museum Director Greg Lambousy.

The matching grant will also enable the New Orleans Jazz Museum to attract additional donors to complete the Herb Alpert Foundation Education Wing and provide for additional renovations to the museum entrance and lobby, as well as landscaping enhancements to the grounds on the Esplanade Avenue side of the museum through a partnership with the LSU Agricultural Center and Louisiana Master Gardeners.

As part of the Herb Alpert Foundation Education Wing, the Ruth U. Fertel Jazz Lab, the Education Lab, and the Digital Audio Workstation Lab facilities will each undergo world-class transformations. Several of these new facilities are still available for donor recognition as the museum's capital campaign continues. When completed, this top-notch educational wing and recording studio will be home to the museum's ongoing recording technologies, music business, and apprentice programs. The core of the museum's programming focuses on educational outreach to students of all ages. The New Orleans Jazz Museum provides educational outreach to high school and university students, educators, and visitors through interactive exhibits, online programming, professional classes and instrument lessons, student performances, and teacher training. The museum brings together musicians, students, and educators, all working together to share the history of Jazz and to secure its future growth and development.

"Supporting Jazz through education and public engagement is a priority for the Herb Alpert Foundation. Working in partnership with Louisiana's iconic New Orleans Jazz Museum allows us to nurture and inspire jazz artists and build engaged and appreciative audiences so that this powerful art form will be alive and well for the benefit of future generations," said Rona Sebastian, President of the Herb Alpert Foundation. Tours of the new state-of-the-art center will be offered following the ribbon cutting.

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