OUR MISSION
At Clazzical Notes, we envision a world where music transcends barriers, sparks joy, and fosters community understanding. To create engaging, educational and experiential music and artistic performances that foster community understanding across diverse cultures, genres and generations.
Clazzical Notes stages music programs that are designed to achieve three goals:
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Engaging individuals through high-quality musical performances
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Educating audiences through information about culture, history and musical genres;
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Experiencing unique levels of audience interaction with performers.
CORE BELIEFS
Cultural Celebration
and Education
We honor the richness of global cultures by presenting music that celebrates heritage and identity.
Education is at the core of our work, creating space for understanding, reflection, and connection through deeply meaningful performances.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION STATEMENT
Clazzical Notes is committed to building an inclusive organization so that people of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, abilities, religions, and backgrounds are welcomed and respected within our Board of Directors, staff, and volunteer groups; and that all are provided with the opportunity and resources to thrive.
We pledge that our educational and artistic programming, presentations, community collaborations, and communications will reflect our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
OUR IMPACT
Through our programs, we have touched the lives of thousands, providing access to high-quality music education and performances. Our impact includes:
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Reaching untold numbers of participants through our educational workshops.
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Performing 48 concerts that celebrate cultural diversity.
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Engaging numerous volunteers and community members in our outreach programs.
SPECIAL THANKS!
Clazzical Notes would like to officially credit the individuals who have been instrumental to our success!
Jerome Gitelson
Virtual Assistant
Mike Chupa
Website Design, Graphic Design
Javier Pérez
Social Media Intern
Lynn Eodice
Photographer
Eugene Hutchins
Grant Writer
Tom Bartolac
Videographer
Jerry Robin
Program Editor
Nolan Shaheed
Website Music Composer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sherone Ivey
Co-Chairperson
Deputy Assistant Secretary for University Partnerships, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (Retired)
Gail Bernstein
Co-Chairperson
Executive Vice President, PNC Credit (retired)
Laura Farber
Director
Attorney at Law, Hahn and Hahn
Prentice Dietrich
Director
Biographical Information to Follow
Diana Yang, CPA
Director
Controller at The California Endowment
Amanda De Loera
Director
Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Cal State University Long Beach
Dr. Pamela Short Powell
Director
Educational Consultant who has served as interim CEO of the Greater Crenshaw Educational Partnership
Steve Kao
Director
Chief Information Officer at Contract Services
CLAZZFRIENDS
Prentice Deadrick
ClazzFriend
Past President, Clazzical Notes
Norma Kachigian
ClazzFriend
Registered Nurse
Chloe Gitelson
ClazzFriend
Community Activist
Marissa Sarian
ClazzFriend
Assistant Superintendent, Pasadena Unified School District (Retired)
Brandon Shamim
ClazzFriend
Professor at California State University, Los Angeles, Entrepreneur
Karen Robinson Smith
ClazzFriend
Registered Nurse (Retired)
Susana Bautista
ClazzFriend
Biographical Information to Follow
Paula Rao
ClazzFriend
The Music Circle Director
MEET THE FOUNDER
Jerri Price-Gaines, MBA
Founder, Executive-Artistic Director
Jerri was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where she had dreams of singing at the Metropolitan Opera House. Her earliest mentor was Roberta Flack, who took an interest in her exceptional vocal abilities and found her first vocal coach and piano teacher in her journey into the greatest passion of her life.
Other vocal coaches of note were Todd Duncan, the original Porgy of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and renowned vocal coach Nathan Lam of the Stephen Wise Temple. Jerri started her vocal work as a session singer and background vocalist at Motown Records, live stage shows, along with a number of commercial jingles stage voice-overs.
Jerri went on to become the inaugural Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Pasadena Symphony in 1998. Through the many years there, Jerri co-developed community partnerships, created memorable music education and outreach programs with the Pasadena Unified School District to serve various constituents in the Pasadena Community, developing afterschool programs in Villa Park, Belvedere Park in East LA, Robinson Park, and the symphony’s own Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra.
She participated in partnerships with the Gene Autry National Museum, California State Northridge, and Kidspace Children's Museum, Rosemary’s Children’s Services, and many more.
In 2004, eager to reach into diverse ethnic communities, Jerri created Clazzical Notes, a program designed to reach classical and jazz music.
Her community service is extensive. Jerri served as Chairperson on the Pasadena Arts and Culture Commission, Chairperson for the Pasadena Arts Council, Advisory Board for Rosemary's Children's Services, Board Chair for Partners in Education, and Grants Chair on the Board of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation. She continues to serve on the Pasadena Executive RoundTable.
Among her many commendations and awards for her years of service are the following:
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Commendation for Outstanding Service, City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs
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Special Congressional Recognition, California Congressman Adam Schiff
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Commendation on Behalf of Service to the Arts, Assemblywoman Carol Liu
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State of California Recognition for Family Programs, California State Senator Jack Scott
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Outstanding Service to Children, California State PTA Council
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Leadership in the Arts, City of Pasadena, Mayor Bill Bogaard
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Andrew Malloy
Trombone
Clazzical Notes was a fresh take on using a variety of performance spaces to create unique opportunities for close encounters between musicians and audiences. The different venues alone created a different kind of interest in experiencing a performance in these varied surroundings. The setting made the events very comfortable for performers and audience and clearly strengthened connections between them. There was a new sense of bringing the music to the audience and not the opposite which is the norm. The format of the evenings only served to reinforce closer than usual connections and removed the fourth wall which so often exists. The wide variety of artists and programming was also very important in attracting a much more diverse audience than those attending “one more subscription event”.