Panama Jazz Festival

The Panama Jazz Festival, founded by acclaimed pianist Danilo Pérez in September 2003, seeks to enrich lives through the communal joy of music. Since its inception, this vibrant event has attracted 300,000 visitors from around the world and awarded over $5 million in scholarships to support more than 25,000 students from Latin America and beyond.

Each year, the festival features a week-long series of master classes conducted by musicians from esteemed institutions such as Berklee College of Music, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and the New England Conservatory. Other notable organizations like the Golandsky Institute and The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz also participate, adding to the festival's prestige.

The festival has hosted legendary musicians, including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Esperanza Spalding, who share their expertise through master classes, inspiring students eager to learn from jazz greats. Additionally, the festival supports the ongoing educational programs of the Danilo Pérez Foundation, which aims to bring art and music to underprivileged children in Panama.

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, the festival released the album "Panama Suite" in 2006. This collaborative effort featured students and faculty from Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, with compositions directed by Danilo Pérez and produced by Billy Herron and Berklee College of Music.

The festival maintains strong partnerships with several institutions, including Berklee College of Music, City of Knowledge, and the New England Conservatory. It also receives support from the Panamanian Government and the U.S. Embassy. Additionally, the Music Therapy Symposium, launched in 2013 by music therapist Patricia Zarate, seeks to advance the theory and practice of music therapy in Latin America.