the jazz education network supports the bitter jester music festival

To Whom It May Concern:

I have known and worked with the Music Festival produced by Nicolas DeGrazia and the Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts, NFP, since its inception 12 years ago and I am happy to write this letter of support. At the time I was Fine Arts Director at Highland Park High School, coordinated the nationally recognized Focus on the Arts program, served on the Cultural Arts Commission, and was very active in the community. I was supportive as it was a way to get the average kid involved in music, many of whom were not a part of traditional school programs.

Now, 12 years later, the Bitter Jester Music Festival has surpassed my expectations as it is likely the largest professional competition of its kind in the Midwest, possibly in the country. All the concerts are FREE FOR THE PUBLIC, so the Foundation does not profit off the kids' talents. Nic and his volunteer team have worked with nearly 1,000 student musicians from just under 200 different bands representing over 40 Chicagoland communities since the Battle's inception. They have started to attract bands from Wisconsin and Indiana.

As a music educator for the past 37 years and the cofounder of the Jazz Education Network (now in all the states and 23 countries), I know the value and importance of music education in a child's life. As a former music student... so does Nic DeGrazia ! I have served as a volunteer judge and clinician for the event many times but Nic has given selflessly of his time and energy to make this unique experience a success. This program has taken a segment of the "young musical population" under its wing - the segment that isn't served by traditional academic outlets like school, private lessons, or the media. Often these are students who don't fit in or who lack encouragement to develop their abilities. He and his team have taken bands live on the air dozens of times (FOX & WCIU TV, WBEZ, WGN, & WLUW Radio, etc). And they have had great success with instilling not only improved musicianship but transferable life skills such as dedication, responsibility, loyalty, perseverance, and confidence.

The students who perform and compete in the Bitter Jester Festival develop a wonderful camaraderie that lasts for years - and I have witnessed this. Nic and his staff really emphasize not only the promotion of good music but also good musicianship and the development of healthy bonds between the kids. They teach them to be polite, how to work with sound crews, and how to be good losers (as well as good winners).

The networking and developing relationships between these musicians will benefit the entire Chicagoland (and American) music scene as these young adults come into their own. Many will choose music as a vocation, others as an avocation... regardless, they will be supporters of the arts in their adulthood because of this memorable and lasting experience in their youth.

In my years of observing and working with Nic DeGrazia and the Bitter Jester Music Fest I have seen the quality of the young musicians improve and their showmanship develop to the extent that this event is of outstanding quality. Nic and his team produce an extremely professional festival.

The Bitter Jester Music Festival is a magnificent program for our youth that is well organized, well attended, and popular with young and old alike. I ask for your support of this tried and true festival that caters to the musical, social, and emotional development of our young students.

Musically Yours,

Mary Jo Papich