Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz

Founded in 1986, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (formerly known as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) teaches jazz to students of all ages while seeking to preserve and promote the uniquely American music genre as a global art form.

Named after the 14-time Grammy-winning jazz musician who serves as the institute's chairman, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance is a rigorous, two-year master's-level program that offers students the opportunity to form an ensemble and study alongside some of the world's leading musicians and educators. Students and instructors perform concerts and community outreach programs throughout the United States and around the world.

Responding to the dramatic cuts in public funding for music education, the institute also runs an array of free jazz programs at public schools across the country that enhance students' confidence and creativity. One hundred percent of participating students have proceeded to graduate from high school.

Every April 30, the institute produces UNESCO's International Jazz Day, which features virtual and in-person performances and events in more than 190 countries. The idea for International Jazz Day originated with Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and co-chairs this global experience that is designed to unite people from all over the world through a love and appreciation for the art form.