EDUCATION
Philip Castleberry, former Jazz Band Director at Lincoln Park High School co-founder of the Teachers Advisory Board of the Jazz Institute of Chicago
It was a pleasure to work with Lauren Deutsch. She developed solutions for the challenges that we were experiencing as jazz educators, and her approach was outcome based. She asked what were the issues that we faced and then she developed the Jazz Links Programs to address those needs.
Some programs were geared directly to the students. The Jazz Residencies gave students weekly interaction and instruction from prolific jazz artists. The Jazz Links Jam Sessions gave students the opportunity to meet and perform with students from other schools in an improvisational setting. She also revitalized The Chicago Public Schools Jazz Band Competition raising the standards of performance and allowing schools to come together to observe each other perform.
Some programs were geared toward professional development for teachers. The Straight Ahead Jazz Camp gave teachers a week long opportunity to hone their jazz skills and to network discussing best practices and experiences. The Noteworthy Big Band comprised of all Chicago Public Schools teachers provides the opportunity to "practice what we teach." It also fans the spark for teachers who have moved away from performing.
Our programs, which were fledgling individually and collectively, would not have had the opportunities to blossom to where they are today without the programs that Lauren Deutsch provided.
Jordan Mandela Education Manager at the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Working with Lauren during her tenure at Chicago Jazz Philharmonic was an eye-opener to what creative, experienced leadership can bring to the work that we do. With Lauren at the helm, we launched several new education programs, including a workshop series focused on Latin Jazz that invites local, national, and international students to participate (which is now in its second year and going strong); a Student Leadership Council which gives young musicians in our Jazz Academy the chance to be involved in the planning and direction of the program; and a catalog of Short-Term Programs, 4- to 6-session courses, each focused on a specific topic, offered to school partners that are not able to commit the resources for a full year residency. Lauren was instrumental in bringing these programs to fruition, and under her guidance, we managed to grow and diversify our offerings as an organization even in the midst of the global pandemic. The enthusiasm and good-naturedness that Lauren brings to her work is infectious, and it encouraged all of us to be better versions of ourselves. I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to work with her.
Shemeka Nash, Jazz Band Director, Morgan Park High School
The experience with Lauren at the Jazz Institute of Chicago has been life-changing for me. I know that it was Lauren's forward-thinking that provided me with the equal opportunity to receive artist and composer residences for my jazz program. Working with Lauren, I felt included and never left out due to my age or gender. Lauren listened closely to the concerns that we had as CPS teachers and came up with real solutions to help fill some of the gaps. We received customized professional development annually and were able to work closely with some of Chicago's best jazz musicians.
Krista Bryski, Program and Event Manager, Chicago Park District
For over 20 years, Lauren has been a treasured collaborative partner of the Chicago Park District, creating Jazz City, a free concert series “bringing people together through jazz” in neighborhood parks. Her passion for connecting community through arts programming shines through in every detail of her work, and her vision and dedication helped paved the way for “art in parks” all across Chicago.
Mark Ingram, Co-Founder and Producing Director, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Lauren Deutsch is an accomplished arts professional who many of us in the arts community have respected and relied on over the years for her expertise in all things performing arts programming and event planning. Her influence was very instrumental in the birth of our Chicago Jazz Philharmonic ‘Third Stream’ orchestra. Lauren became our interim executive director right at the height of the nation’s COVID-19 shut down, successfully guiding us through a very harrowing period for many arts organizations... some of whom did not survive.
Orbert Davis, Co-founder and Artistic Director, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Lauren Deutsch is a visionary miracle worker. Nearly every turning point of my professional career pivoted as a result of her opening myriads of opportunities: from my very first Chicago Jazz Festival to my most recent; from igniting a passion for the music of Louis Armstrong that I never knew existed, to setting the stage for me to 'become' Miles Davis; And of course, for igniting a spark that became a flame through her words, 'Think Big.'
The world of jazz is stronger through the many lives that have been touched through her passionate leadership. Chicago jazz has been defined through her dreams.
Katie Ernst, Bassist, bandleader and former Education Associate at Jazz institute of Chicago
Lauren's support for the jazz community is radically holistic. She championed both the elder statesmen and women of Chicago jazz and the youngest students of the music. She cared about jazz education and for the people who teach jazz. She brought the music to venues all over Chicago. She connected generations of musicians to one another. She documented the evolving jazz scene. That kind of full-picture advocacy for jazz has strongly impacted my personal trajectory as a musician and educator. Lauren models for me what it looks like to be involved in the next generation of this music as well as cherish and celebrate the legacy of the music that has come before me.
Morgan Pirtle, Vocalist, Former Membership Manger and Women’s Jazz Leadership Initiative co-founder at Jazz Institute of Chicago
Within the first few months of my internship at the Jazz Institute, I was approached by Lauren + Katie Ernst with the invitation to help create a program that would support young women jazz musicians in Chicago. From the moment we began planning, Lauren’s passion for creating an enlightening and nurturing space for young women in jazz was inspiring. She guided us into a deep dive of the issues surrounding the lack of women in the jazz scene in Chicago. Together, we brain stormed ways to shape our program to help facilitate change. This collaboration led to the formation of the WJLI (Women’s Jazz Leadership Initiative), a program dedicated to fostering a community of professional women musicians and students in Chicagoland by focusing on dialog, connection, and musical exchange. Through this program, we helped young women network, learn from experienced women jazz musicians, and connect with other young women in jazz. Lauren’s mentorship, guidance, and fierce determination to create change within the structure of the jazz scene has had lasting impression in the community and helped influence the careers of many young women. (Including my own!)
Ricardo Jimenez, Trumpeter, vocalist, former Programs Assistant, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Lauren Deutsch’s creative and innovative thinking inspires those around her to take on new challenges and discover new frontiers. I can personally testify to this, having collaborated with her to create Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s International Masters of Improvisation Workshops. Her wisdom, experience, and leadership welcome team members to share freely and think creatively.
Lauren called me in the first few days of 2021 with a new project she had in mind and invited me to become part of the team to help get it off the ground. Even though I was still very much new in the non-profit sector and also a 22-year-old in his last year of college, she asked me for my thoughts and opinions on the project and for ideas to help bring it to fruition. She welcomed my ideas and took them on as foundation of what the program would eventually become. I am forever thankful for the artistic freedom and creative license that Lauren made and that I call a “freethinking space.”