Blues Battle of the Buildings Benefit
The Blues Battle of the Buildings Benefit is the newest interactive music project from Chicago's Bloom School of Jazz, together with The Bloom Foundation. This is a competition for ten business buildings in downtown Chicago, set for September 2023. Each building will have one band, made up of musicians from that building. All musicians receive 2 months of instruction and guided rehearsals, followed by a final concert.
Proceeds from the benefit allow The Bloom Foundation 501(c)(3) to provide music education to kids. We encourage businesses, donors, and sponsors to participate in this publicized event. Our goal is to raise $25,000 for five kids to study at the Bloom School of Jazz for one year.
How it Works:
The businesses of each building will be notified of this opportunity for their employees to join others interested in learning and playing Blues on guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. Each building's band will consist of 4 or 5 musicians.
In this program, participants will learn Chicago Blues, an iconic music form. This is a chance for beginner and intermediate musicians to learn how to play Blues music from top instructors at the Bloom School of Jazz.
There will be a 2-month learning period which includes 8 one-hour rehearsals, held at The Bloom School of Jazz, 226 S. Wabash. The school provides instruments on site, including bass, guitar, drums, piano/keyboard and vocal PA. The cost to participate is $200 (tax deductible) per musician. Supplementary private lessons will be available for musicians who want more instruction. After this learning and rehearsal period, there is a concert.
The Blues Battle of the Buildings Concert gives musicians a chance to perform in front of an audience, and to represent their building. The winning bands will be chosen by veteran Chicago Blues musicians: and will be awarded $1000 for first prize, and $500 for runner-up.
Sign Up to Play and Join Musicians From Your Building
For musicians and people who want to play, click here to apply.
We will review your information and contact you to assign you to a group and complete the process.
Impact
The Blues Battle of the Buildings Benefit includes:
- The efforts of participants, donors, and sponsors will support music education for underprivileged kids.
- Each building's employees will support their building's band, creating an esprit de corps in each building.
- The final Blues Battle of the Buildings Benefit Concert will be widely publicized; bringing attention to each of the buildings involved, and its musicians.
- Bloom School of Jazz events have been covered by news outlets including CBS, WGN, and WTTW; Chicago Tribune and Chicago Reader.
Blues Battle of the Buildings is Presented by The Bloom School of Jazz and The Bloom Foundation
The BSOJ and the Bloom Foundation 501(c)(3) are committed to providing musicians with great learning and performing experiences. For 48 years, the Bloom School of Jazz has taught beginners through Grammy winners. The Bloom Foundation gives scholarships to students who need tuition support.
Call (773) 860-8300 or email david@bloomschoolofjazz.com to get involved.
