The Friends of John Coltrane have been successful in broadening our instrument competition program since its inception at our first John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. To date, we have awarded over 100 instruments to aspiring students at a retail value of over $150,000. In prior years, these students and their families attended the festival and were awarded their instruments on stage. One of the performing artists also provided words of encouragement and inspiration.

We are continuing this tradition of recognizing young musical talent by staging a this virtual streaming music event with the Lao Tizer Band featuring Eric Marienthal and Karen Briggs. Both Lao Tizer and Karen Briggs are alumni of the Coltrane Festival. Their performances will be highlighted with segments showing this year’s winners receiving their instruments.