Trombone Shorty Foundation & Trombone Shorty Music Academy

In 2020, we partnered with The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts to expand their Annual Scholarship Art Contest to include a Songwriting Contest. For the last 6 years, we've been proud to help provide a platform for young creatives across Louisiana to showcase their work!

This year's Songwriting Contest winner, John Stephen Zaffuto Jr., performed his song at Shorty Fest Presented by Acura on April 27 (pictured here). He and two other finalists will also share $6000 in college scholarships. A native of Hammond, LA and a recent New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) graduate, he was interviewed and featured as a "Rising Star" by Tangi Lifestyles. Check out the link below to hear the interview. Congratulations again, John! ✨

LINK TO INTERVIEW ->
https://northshoremedia.net/2026/06/04/singer-songwriter-john-stephen-zaffuto-jr/

Thanks to photographer David Gray for capturing these spectacular shots of the "Trombone Shorty Foundation Band" at Music on the Mountain in Ludlow, VT a few weeks ago! This group, made up of Shorty Foundation Alumni students, visited and performed at several local schools in the Ludlow area, then kicked off the live music Friday night with a second line at the base of Okemo Mountain. They also got the crowd worked up on Saturday with several second lines — at one point flanked by local artists Celebration Brass Band — and finally joined the headliners on stage at the After Party concert that night.

It was quite a weekend and we were so proud to see them bring the magic! Check out more of these photos, including images from the school visits, on our website -> https://www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org/photos-from-music-on-the-mountain/

Huge thanks to Relix for capturing the spirit of this year’s Music on the Mountain. Watching our Trombone Shorty Foundation students kick off a weekend filled with music, community, and connection was incredibly meaningful. ✨

For many of these young musicians, this wasn’t just another performance. It was an opportunity to travel, collaborate, experience a different music community, and represent the culture and spirit of New Orleans. Seeing second lines roll through the mountains of Vermont alongside artists we deeply admire is something none of us will forget. 🎺

Grateful to our partners at The Phoenix and Divided Sky Foundation for creating a space where music truly brings people together. And proud of our students for showing up with so much heart, soul, and joy all weekend long!

Divided Sky Foundation’s Third Music on the Mountain Festival Hosts Eggy, LaMP, Supergroup Set and More Eggy, photo by Bahram Foroughi Music on the Mountain returned for its third-annual special benefit festival over the weekend. Presented by The Phoenix and

We’re grateful to announce that we are recipients of the Find Your Light Foundation's 2026 grant! Their support allows us to further our mission of preserving New Orleans’ musical culture by preparing our city’s young artists for success in music and in life. Thanks to their support, we will continue to serve our community the best way we know how—through our music!

Find Your Light is dedicated to supporting exceptional arts programs where the need is greatest, recognizing arts education as an essential part of a young person’s development. Thank you, Find Your Light, for championing the power of the arts and helping us make a lasting impact!

The Trombone Shorty Foundation Band will be appearing at Music on the Mountain in Ludlow, Vermont next Saturday! Super excited to be part of this very special weekend, all to benefit Trey Anastasio's Divided Sky Foundation. Our students will kick off the music with a performance then second line up to the stage. If you're in the NE area, come join us! Tickets still available here -> https://www.musiconthemtn.com

Divided Sky's BIG Weekend takes place May 15-17 at Jackson Gore in Ludlow, VT featuring activities all weekend in support of Divided Sky Foundation. Events include the 5th annual Divided Sky Fun(d) Run and Music on the Mountain with a full day of live music at the base of Okemo Mountain featuring Eggy, LaMP, 2LOT, Karina Rykman, Anders Osborne & Jackie Greene, Daniel Donato, Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, Dezron Douglas, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Murray's Law and more.

Tickets, Fun(d) Run registration, full schedule, and more ➡ bigweekend.org.

Today is GIVE NOLA Day!! Since 2012, the Trombone Shorty Foundation has mentored musically inclined New Orleans youth to develop professional skills through mentorship, instruction, work-based learning, and real-world touring. If you weren't able to make it last week at Shorty Fest Presented by Acura, you can still participate in our fundraising efforts! 😎

Please consider making a donation on this day of community giving ->
https://www.givenola.org/organization/trombone-shorty-foundation

Tonight at Shorty Fest Presented by Acura, we’re honored to welcome back a member of the family — Jon Batiste — joining Trombone Shorty on stage.

Before the world knew his name, Jon was part of Orleans Avenue. Now, he returns as one of the most celebrated artists of his generation — a powerful reminder of what’s possible when the culture is passed down, lifted up, and carried forward.

This is what the Trombone Shorty Foundation is all about — building community, and preparing the next generation to carry New Orleans music into the future.

If you’re here tonight, you’re part of that story. ✨

Our Shorty Fest Presented by Acura SILENT AUCTION items are now available for preview! From original artwork and photography, to a signed Fender Gretsch Guitar, to a signed custom trombone, to Bang & Olufsen Headphones... check out this year's selection of items at the link below. Bidding opens this Sunday April 26 at 12pm CT!

📣 GA Tickets are now SOLD OUT! Limited number of VIP tickets still available here -> https://bit.ly/3OAvVtj

😎 Preview Silent Auction items here -> https://bit.ly/4cxXkFm

LOW TICKET ALERT... GA tickets for Shorty Fest Presented by Acura are going fast! Join us on THIS Monday April 27 at Tipitina's for performances by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue, Cimafunk & La Tribu, with special guests Tarriona "Tank" Ball (of Tank and the Bangas), Big Freedia, Jelly Joseph, and JoJo Hermann (of Widespread Panic), plus students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation and Primera Linea. 😎🎺🎶

Get tickets here before they're gone -> https://bit.ly/478Ygg7

Don't miss your chance to see what will surely be an electric performance ⚡️ by Grammy Awards Nominated Cuban artist Cimafunk & La Tribu, at this year's Shorty Fest Presented by Acura! Join us Monday April 27 at Tipitina's, we'll get the outdoor events going around 5pm and doors opening for the indoor performances at 7pm.

Music lineup also includes Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue, plus special guests Tarriona "Tank" ball (of Tank and the Bangas), Big Freedia, Jelly Joseph, and JoJo Hermann (of Widespread Panic), plus students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation and Primera Linea. 😎🎺🎶 Get GA & VIP tickets now -> https://bit.ly/478Ygg7

Cimafunk | Me Voy | Skoll World Forum 2025 #skollwf Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.