PANAMA’S  JAZZ FESTIVAL  does more than entertain thousands of local fans with performances from some of the world’s  greatest artists, It also features a strong educational program.

Parallel to the concerts of the thirteenth Festival there will be  94 activities, musical workshops, symposia, discussions, lectures and free presentations, many of which will help more local performers  to follow a long line of  fellow countrymen on the road to stardom.

Marathon educational events will take place Jan 11 - 15, 2016 in The City of Knowledge.

There will be classes of violin, trumpet, gospel, harmonica, guitar, piano, bass, bass, drums, African percussion, saxophone, trombone, voice, improvisation and composition, as well as workshops on the history of jazz, retro jazz, body percussion, musical  pedagogy.

Talks  are scheduled with artists Danny Rivera, on January 14, and Randy Weston, January 15, both at 10:00 am in the auditorium of the Convention Centre .

On January 15 a free concert of gospel will also be offered to the public at 2:00 pm in Room 203 of Building 105.

The educational side of the Panama Jazz Festival 2016 will also feature the fourth Latin American Symposium on Music Therapy and a live program of the Arts, which will take place all week.

Particpating artists include  Graciela Nunez, Kevin Harris, Dave Douglas, Marco Pignataro, John and Tom Patitucci, Walter White, Martha Galdos, Chris Collins, Isabelle Leymarie, Tracy Einstein, Orion Morales, Oscar Cruz and Tony Vega.

"The mission of the festival classes is to offer musical education of the highest quality to Latin American students who are unable to attend high cost foreign universities.. Since its inception clinics have brought together more than 7000 students from Panama and around the world.

Alongside  the teaching  there be will be , testing and  auditioning for different programs or careers offered by foreign entities supporting the Festival, like  the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music, both in the United States says  pianist Danilo Perez, founder and  in the thirteenth edition of the musical will introduce educational offerings at Wayne State University in Detroit. To date, the Panama Jazz Festival has enalbles some   $3 million in scholarships for students who have been selected during the auditions..

For information on the costs of workshops, lectures and other activities of the educational program, call (507) 211-0272 or write to educacion@fundaciondaniloperez.org.