The Herbie Hancock Institute offers the world’s most promising young musicians college-level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and presents free music education programs for young people in public schools and communities world-wide. Millions of people have experienced jazz through the institute’s signature programs: Jazz in the Classroom, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, International Competition, International Jazz Day, National Performing Arts High Schools Jazz Program, Peer-to-Peer Jazz Education Tours and BeBop to Hip-Hop.

Since joining in partnership with UCLA in 2012, the Hancock Institute has expanded jazz in new directions through the Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, which offers an intensive two-year graduate degree. Students, selected through rigorous auditions, represent the world’s most gifted young musicians. Studying on full scholarships, they are provided with the resources to develop their own artistic voices under renowned jazz musicians and educators. Students also perform internationally and work across genres with fellow musicians throughout the school of music.

Legendary jazz greats Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, and other illustrious artists work with Hancock students both privately and as an ensemble. Focusing on improvisation, composition, technique, theory, history and creativity, these teaching-artists also showcase their artistic contributions to jazz through masterclasses, lectures and performances. The program’s notable alumni – inspiring future generations of musicians – include trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, guitarist Lionel Loueke, vocalist and UCLA alumna Gretchen Parlato, saxophonist Walter Smith III, and pianist Helen Sung.