ORLANDO – As students return for a new school year, Jones High School (JHS) instrumental music students can look forward to special after school private tutoring and master classes given by the professional musicians of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO). At its June meeting, the Orlando City Council awarded the Jones High School Foundation (JHSF) a City of Orlando Mayor’s Matching Grant (MMG) in the amount of $4,500 to help defray the costs of the special classes.
JHSF is in the process of raising $10,000 to cover not only the MMG match but also to supplement a $3,000 grant from UnitedArts of Central Florida to defer expenses in conjunction with MESSIAH 50: the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Jones High School Choir Performance with Orchestra of G. F. Händel’s Messiah.
For this celebration, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Eric Jacobsen, Music Director, joins the Jones High School Concert Choir, Andrea Green, Director, Jones High School Alumni and Community Choir, Cicily Youngblood, Director, University of Central Florida Singing Knights and Orlando Choral Society, both under the direction of Dr. Jeffery Redding, Thursday, December 8, 2022, 7 PM, JHS James W. “Chief” Wilson Auditorium, 801 S. Rio Grande Avenue, Orlando, FL.
According to JHSF President, Adm. (Ret.) David L. Brewer III, “The Jones High School (JHS) music programs have achieved unprecedented success, with performances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Carnegie Hall, etc. More importantly, the music programs have produced some of JHS’s most successful graduates, with a college acceptance rate of greater than 85%. Thus, these grants yield a significant return on investment for JHS music programs’ students.”
Jones High School Foundation (JHSF) is an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to fund and support empowerment programs for the students, faculty, families and the administration of Jones High School. For more information about JHSF or to make a donation go to SupportJonesHigh.com or call 321-310-8346.
Tickets for MESSIAH 50 are available at Eventbrite.com [visit: bit.ly/JHSMessiah50].
