PHF YTD Impact Report: Quarter 1, 2025
Dear Foundation Friends,
We kicked off 2025 with one of the busiest and most inspiring quarters in our history! Music students from across the country traveled to Preservation Hall to immerse themselves in its rich history, experience its deep connection to New Orleans culture, and engage in unforgettable Kids In The Hall field trips and workshops with our musicians.
Thanks to our partnerships with the Historic New Orleans Collection and Cultural Curriculum, we expanded these experiences beyond the Hall, offering walking tours through Armstrong Park and the Historic New Orleans Collection to provide a broader context of the city’s musical legacy.
For many of these young students, it’s the first time they’ve experienced a live music venue, interacted with musicians, and seen a variety of instruments up close - which we hope sparks a life-long curiosity and love for the very special music of New Orleans. And for the aspiring musicians - school jazz bands, young orchestra players, rising vocalists - Kids In The Hall is more than an educational program: it’s a powerful affirmation that a life in music isn’t just possible, it’s something to be celebrated. Read on to celebrate our 2025 Year-to-Date impact in Quarter 1.
"To be taught and coached by the Preservation Hall musicians really has positively impacted our students. We were not just observers of music, but active participants in a living, breathing lesson on how to communicate, support, and elevate one another. The magic of Preservation Hall, the authenticity of the musicians, and the sheer passion they bring, I feel, represents the zeitgeist of New Orleans culture at its best."
-Testimonial from Westminster School
2,601 Students From 40 Schools Visited Preservation Hall In Quarter 1 2025 For Kids In The Hall Field Trips
"The experience was a marvelous gift for our students and the parents were head over heels. The program resonated with our 1st grade students and the opportunity to ask questions of the musicians was very moving."
-Testimonial from Willow School
Students From 17 Different States Visited Preservation Hall
States represented: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington D.C., Wisconsin
$87,550 Was Dispersed To Musicians For Community Engagement, Education, And Other Foundation Programming
"Our student who had been asked by Mark Braud to sing a solo with the band told us that it was her best day ever. In that impromptu moment, she felt seen, and an impact was made that may last a lifetime."
-Testimonial from Westminster School
PHF Education Media Has Seen 90% Year-Over-Year Growth With Over 172.5K Views. Brazil and Germany Are Our Top Streaming Countries Behind the US
On April 8th, At the 26th annual HNOC Bill Russell Lecture: "Women of Preservation" Hall, PHF Archives Manager Kelly Porter, Sherrie Tucker, and special guest Dodie Smith-Simmons shared their perspectives during an enlightening talk, preceded by “show-and-tell,” where guests learned about archival objects from HNOC and the Preservation Hall Archives.
The evening’s highlight was a moving performance at Toulouse Theatre. Led by Mari Watanabe and accompanied by special guests, the women of Preservation Hall delivered a performance that gave voice to the musical traditions of New Orleans.
Many thanks to all who joined us for this unforgettable program, and to the Derbes Foundation and the New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund for generously sponsoring the 2025 Bill Russell Lecture.
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