Coming up in March, the 6th annual Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival will now offer two different opportunities for school-based groups to preform.
Returning to the festival again this year is Class Got Brass, a contest created to support music education in schools and to promote New Orleans' traditional culture. Class Got Brass is a competition open to middle and high school students throughout the state of Louisiana that form a brass band of up to 12 members. The groups perform in accordance with the guidelines to accentuate the brass band tradition. They compete in a manner that takes the form of a second-line parade, and battle musically for more than $20,000 worth of instruments for the winning schools' music programs.
Deadline to enter the Class Got Brass competition is February 22, click here for more information.
In addition, beginning this year the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is adding the new Kids Stage with a line up to include both music and dance performances by school groups in styles ranging from jazz to gospel, classical, and more. Kindergarten children through grade-12 are welcome for instrumental, vocal, and dance groups.
Deadline to apply for the Kids Stage is March 8 - click here for the application.
"With Class Got Brass and the new Kids Stage at the Congo Square festival, our goal is to support arts education in the school system - to showcase our kids' talents and to reward the hard work of both students and teachers," explained Don Marshall, the Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation in a press release.
The 2013 Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival will be held at Louis Armstrong Park and is scheduled for Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24. Admission is free.
This year's performers include the Brooklyn-based, bhangra funk band Red Baraat, Cuban percussionist and singer Pedrito Martinez, the Stooges Brass Band, as well as NOLA-based Africa Brass in collaboration with local, Cuban jazz group OTRA, and more. The festival will also include food and arts market vendors.
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