Center of Life offers a twenty-first-century jazz program to Pittsburgh youth to learn the skills, creativity, and discipline to thrive as musicians and leaders.

Through high-level artistic training, mentorship, and community engagement, Center of Life Jazz helps young musicians discover their voices and envision unlimited possibilities for themselves and their communities.

Students build strong foundations in jazz through the study of rhythm, improvisation, ensemble interaction, creativity, tradition, culture, and history.

Our groups perform regularly and have been awarded nationally at prestigious institutions and festivals, including the Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans and the Monterey Jazz Festival. COL alumni have toured globally with jazz icons Marcus Miller and Kenny Garrett and have continued their music studies at outstanding universities, including Berklee College of Music, Indiana University Bloomington, Temple University, and other renowned programs.

COL Jazz students perform throughout the Pittsburgh community, from Heinz Hall and Acrisure Stadium to regular appearances at the city's renowned jazz club, Con Alma, where they perform with and receive mentorship from Pittsburgh jazz greats like Roger Humphries, Reggie Watkins, and John Shannon.

Our students engage in meaningful intergenerational and community-based performances and projects, collaborating with COL Jazz’s elementary and middle school students as well as performing with university musicians for residents of local senior centers. Pittsburgh's rich jazz legacy provides the space for a program that honors tradition while preparing students to shape the future of the music. 

For more information about COL Jazz, please email jazz@centeroflife.org