Harvey Band Director Wins National Award For Jazz Educators

HARVEY, IL — A south suburban music store owner was given a prestigious award recognizing his commitment to teaching the arts at a January Jazz conference last month.

The John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year Award is given to teachers and influencers who teach students under 18 years old the importance of the art form. According to officials, recipients of the award are nationally recognized as some of the top music teachers in the world.

Roosevelt Griffin, a Harvey native, accepted the award in January and will be given a cash prize and banquet in his honor in addition to the special distinction. Griffin owns the south suburban music consulting company Griffin Music, LLC and also founded the Griffin Institute of Performing Arts.

"Being an educator is not a career, it is a lifestyle," Griffin told Patch. "My approach to teaching is one that is intentional and full of care and love. I believe music education should be a vehicle to promote not only musical excellence, but also unity and diversity."

Griffin said he gives back to the community he grew up in by working as a student mentor for the VanderCook College of Music and co-directing the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Youth Ensemble. He also serves as the Harvey School District 152 band director, a group which he said helped him discover his love of music when he was in elementary school.