Minnesota Regional Cultural Treasures Award Recipient
Funding made possible by a collaboration of the McKnight, Ford, Bush, and Jerome Foundations.
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News

Walker West growing beyond music
Star Tribune – 5/10/2022
St. Paul music school using capital campaign to strengthen community ties.
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Walker West Music Academy outgrows Selby Ave. site
My Villager – 4/13/2022
The Wilder building on Marshall offers several advantages, according to Haulcy. It would increase Walker West’s space from 6,000 to 16,000 square feet, including 3,000 square feet for instrument storage. The new facility offers improved rehearsal spaces and a larger performance space. Plans call for greatly upgraded technology as well as better soundproofing.
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$12.6 Million Initiative Offers New Funding for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian American-Led Arts Organizations
McKnight Foundation – 6/18/2021
In phase one, ten arts organizations in Minnesota — designated Regional Cultural Treasures — each will receive unrestricted grants of at least $500,000, to be distributed over the next five years or more. The Regional Cultural Treasures program honors organizations that have made a significant impact on our cultural landscape over decades.
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Ten Minnesota arts groups serving communities of color to split $7M in funding
StarTribune – 5/18/2021
At least $500,000 each for “cultural treasures” linked to communities of color.
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2022

Ta-coumba T. Aiken wins a Guggenheim, recognizing decades of dynamic work
MinnPost – 4/26/2022
Aiken says the fellowship signifies a belief in his work, which allows him to continue to do his work in communities at large.
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10 Current Black Minnesota Musicians You Need to Know
StarTribune – 2/18/2022
A year ago we compiled a guide to “30 Essential Black Minnesota Musicians” — a look back at the state’s all-time greats, and at least one of the world’s (Prince) — but we felt there was something missing: It left out many of the current Black musicians who are shaping and igniting the sounds coming out of the Twin Cities and beyond. So that’s our mission here.
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Artist PaviElle French Launches Residency in St. Paul
I Care If You Listen – 2/10/2022
American Composers Forum (ACF) is excited to announce “Liberation! Lifting up our Youth:” a multi-part residency led by artist and St. Paul native PaviElle French and six St. Paul-based arts organizations.
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Friends, family of late musician hold concert to benefit the place he taught children, St. Paul’s Walker West Music Academy
Pioneer Press – 1/25/2022
Tom Zosel taught students several wind instruments, including trombone, at St. Paul’s Walker West Music Academy.
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2021

Bill Cottman, photographer, poet, radio host and mentor to Twin Cities artists, dies at 77
StarTribune – 12/22/2021
He began hosting KFAI’s “Mostly Jazz” in the mid-1990s.
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Grants highlight work of Minnesota groups serving those with Alzheimer’s and dementia
MinnPost – 12/13/2021
The number of cases of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is on the rise in Minnesota.
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St. Paul music academy to expand its dementia-friendly chorus
MPRnews – 11/15/2021
The St. Paul music school announced $7 million fundraiser goThe Minnesota Board on Aging has awarded the Walker|West Music Academy in St. Paul more than $100,000 to expand its Amazing Grace Chorus, which engages people with dementia and works to get the word out about Alzheimer’s disease in the Black community.
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Songs of the Soul, Interview with Lady J Griot
KFAI – 11/9/2021
Jacquie Lady J Maddix has been broadcasting the blues for more than 30 years. She blends Blues, Soul, R&B, Funk and Jazz into a music alchemy that holds the listener spellbound. The roots of American blues music runs deeper than the slave trade of the 1600’s in America.
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Minnesota Board on Aging awards grants to support people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
MN Board of Aging – 11/4/2021
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Crisis responders: the state’s resourceful nonprofits, which navigated a year like no other
MinnPost – 09/24/2021
Funny Asian Women Kollective (FAWK) and Walker West Music Academy, for example, both embraced their roles working at the intersection of art, performance, community, healing, and learned to find new ways to engage and support their served communities.
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Twin Cities Jazz Festival returns to Mears Park in St. Paul on Sept. 17-18
Pioneer Press – 9/10/2021
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The Dakota reopens, shiny and ready; Nachito Herrera to headline 20th annual Selby Avenue JazzFest
MinnPost – 9/10/2021
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Pianist Nachito Herrera celebrates 20 years in Minnesota at 20th annual Selby Avenue JazzFest
Pioneer Press – 9/4/2021
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Schubert Club reveals Accordo, Mix concerts for 2021-22; Wes Anderson’s Kingdom at the Heights
MinnPost – 7/28/2021
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Delfeayo Marsalis, Kenny Barron and Emmet Cohen set to headline Twin Cities Jazz Festival
MinnPost – 6/23/2021
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‘Jazz Fest Live’ draws thousands of viewers to music made in Minnesota
MinnPost – 4/1/2021
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Groove was everything’ to Minnesota bluesman Big George Jackson, dead at 71
StarTribune – 3/18/2021
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2020
‘Extraordinarily gifted’ Minneapolis jazz vocalist Debbie Duncan dies at 69
Pioneer Press – 12/18/2020
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Taylor Mac to perform ‘Holiday Sauce … Pandemic!’ live; ‘A Christmas Carol’ radio play from Park Square Theatre
MinnPost – 12/11/2020
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Striking a chord with the senior set: Walker-West is now offering private lessons for aspiring musicians 55 and older
My Villager – 11/14/2020
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‘Art in This Present Moment’ features right-now work by BIPOC artists; History Theatre presents Tim O’Brien’s ‘The Things They Carried’
MinnPost – 11/12/2020
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Minnesota elder leaders on the times we’re living in
West Central Tribune – 9/27/2020
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Walker West Music Academy expands community connections, seeks to raise $ 7 million
Pioneer Press – 7/5/2020
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Roderick Cox forms new ties to Minnesota; celebrating Marion McClinton’s life at Pillsbury Theatre
MinnPost – 2/28/2020
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2019
How to Volunteer in the Twin Cities This Holiday Season
Thrillist – 11/11/2019
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Twin Cities Jazz Venues
Jazz Police – 11/3/2019
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‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ is a visual playlist; ‘Curious Incident’ to open at Yellow Tree
MinnPost – 9/13/2019
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Vocalist Ashley Dubose launches Rondo Community Music Series
Insight News – 9/9/2019
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Walker West Music Academy expands community connections, seeks to raise $ 7 million
Pioneer Press – 07/05/2020
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What is Juneteenth? Some elders explain
Kare11 – 6/19/2019
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Minnesota Humanities Center names Kevin Lindsey new CEO
Insight News – 5/31/2019
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Tools to unlock the imagination
Southwest Journal – 3/7/2019
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Braxton Haulcy named executive director at Walker West Music Academy
Insight News – 1/25/2019
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2018
Walker West Announces Second Season of 8 O’Clock Jump Jazz Series
Twin Cities
Jazz Police – 10/1/2018
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‘Siah Armajani: Follow This Line’ to open at the Walker; SPCO’s season opener
MinnPost – 9/7/2018
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Saturday’s Selby Avenue JazzFest starts with a traditional New Orleans procession
Pioneer Press – 9/5/2018
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Racially charged Twitter war prompts Har Mar Superstar to start GoFundMe campaign
Pioneer Press – 7/5/2018
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Tools to unlock the Get set for world-class jazz this weekend around St. Paul’s lovely Mears Park. And it’s free.
Pioneer Press – 6/21/2018
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‘Right Here Showcase’ spotlights midcareer artists; ‘Speechless’ returns to the Lab
MinnPost – 5/10/2018
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2018 Twin Cities Jazz Festival: Headliners Announced
Jazz Police – 4/17/2018
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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, April 2018
Jazz Police – 4/1/2018
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Ridiculously picky’ jazz vocalist Debbie Duncan really likes her new album
Star Tribune – 3/29/2018
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Melvin Carter’s cabinet choices didn’t always align with community panels’ picks
Pioneer Press – 1/11/2018
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2017
Hoaxer Returns! Thanksgiving Weekend, November 24 in the Dunsmore Room
Jazz Police – 11/21/2017
Hoaxer Returns to Vieux Carre’ on Friday, August 18
Jazz Police – 8/15/2017
Pre-Fest: Cameron Kinghorn, Charanga Tropical, Jordan Anderson, Lee Engele
Jazz Police – 6/17/2017
Solomon Parham Quintet with Eric Gravatt at the Black Dog
Jazz Police – 1/13/2017
Twin Cities Bass Camp Winter Workshop Presents Three Concerts at Walker West, January 6-8 Twin Cities
Jazz Police – 1/6/2017
2016
Announces Second Season of 8 O’Clock Jump Jazz Series
JazzPolice – 10/1/2016
Kirk Whalum Headlines 15th Annual Selby Ave Jazz Festival, September 10
Jazz Police – 9/5/2016
2016 Twin Cities Jazz Festival: Three Days of Jazz Glory in St. Paul
Jazz Police – 7/3/2016
Masters and Emerging Masters at Jazz Central
Jazz Police – 6/28/2016
7 days of fun: GermanFest this weekend, Twin Cities Jazz Fest next week
Pioneer Press – 6/16/2016
Former Walker director Martin Friedman remembered at Sculpture Garden groundbreaking
MinnPost – 5/11/2016
Walker West’s 8 O’Clock Jump Series Features the Atlantis Quartet, April 15
Jazz Police – 4/11/2016
The 2015 SouthernMinn Scene Summer Music Festival Preview
SouthernMinn – 4/5/2016
April Is Jazz Appreciation Month
Jazz Police – 4/1/2016
St. Paul church offers blessings – and bankers
Pioneer Press – 3/9/2016
Eric Gravatt’s Source Code, Falls Five – Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog, February 27
Jazz Police – 2/24/2016
A royal homecoming for King, buzzing R&B trio with Minneapolis roots
StarTribune – 2/11/2016
2015
7 days of fun: Holiday season arrives with Brian Setzer Orchestra
Pioneer Press – 11/11/2015
7 jazz shows where you can get your groove on
Pioneer Press – 9/5/2015
Park Square thinks big with ‘Color Purple’
StarTribune – 1/23/2015
2014
Jazz in the Twin Cities: your fall guide
Pioneer Press – 09/05/2014
Walker West taking its passion for music to new St. Paul digs
StarTribune – 4/12/2014
Walker West taking its passion for music to new St. Paul digs
Star Tribune – 04/12/2014
2007
Music lessons help ease the transition for ethnic Karen at St. Paul church
Pioneer Press – 11/17/2007