SheBop Jr. Community Concert is part of the University of Rhode Island’s Voices in Jazz Festival for 2025! The SheBop Swing Orchestra is an all-female jazz band with members all over New England, and we’re passionate about supporting women and trans folks in jazz. Many of us are professional music educators, but even more of us are community members with other careers and a love of music. Reaching out to local youth is one of the best ways we’ve found to help keep kids interested in playing their instruments; it connects them to their peers, it shows them what they can do if they continue with music, and it provides visibility for an underrepresented community.

The SBSO is partnering with the jazz department at the University of Rhode Island to put on a concert featuring local middle and high school students, as well as the SBSO itself. Students will get a chance to meet other musicians like them, develop their skills together, and play in a big band under the mentorship and direction of SBSO members. This is a fantastic, once-a-year opportunity for young musicians interested in playing more jazz!

If you want to hear more about it, please read on. Reach out to us with any questions at [email protected]!