Twenty years ago, our Co-founder and President, Lonnie Davis, was forced to evacuate her beloved hometown of New Orleans with her family, as the devastating storm approached. What began as a temporary escape turned into a permanent relocation — and an unexpected new chapter in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Longing for the spirit and sound of home, Lonnie channeled her passion for jazz into a mission: to share the cultural richness of New Orleans with a city that, at the time, had no real jazz scene. In 2009, she and Ocie Davis launched what would become JazzArts Charlotte, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving jazz, supporting musicians, and educating the next generation.

Since then, JazzArts has impacted over 50,000 students and continues to shape the musical landscape of the region — bringing world-class performances to the JAZZ ROOM and igniting a lifelong love of music in young people across the Carolinas. JazzArts Charlotte exists today because Lonnie Davis turned tragedy into a mission.