OAKLAND, FL — Thea Town of Oakland is celebrating International Jazz Day on Friday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live jazz music on Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland’s porch. In partnership with the HAPCO Music Foundation, saxophonist Jordan Bolds will be serenading visitors before they step into a gallery full of paintings, historical photos, artifacts and more – featuring Oakland as its centerpiece.

Visitors are welcome to sit on the Center porch, picnic tables and benches, or bring their lawn chairs and listen to the music from the grass next to the West Orange Trail. Center capacity will be limited to 10 persons at a time. Visitors should maintain social distancing, observe local mask mandates and use hand sanitizer upon entry.

International Jazz Day is a holiday created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. Since 2011, International Jazz Day brings communities, schools, artists and more together to learn and listen to the music that comes from the soul.

Bolds is a student at the University of Central Florida and a member of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church, where he serves as the church saxophonist. Bolds has been playing for approximately eight years and has participated in many churches, community and social programs and contests over the years. He is a member of Northside Christian’s marching band, jazz band and concert band. He won first place in the 2016 Power of Song: Sounds of the Civil Rights Movement program and in the 2017 Greatness Beyond Measure program. In addition to this, Jordan has opened for multiple gospel artists – such as Todd Dulaney and Marvin Sapp.

About the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland

The Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center is committed to preserving Oakland’s past, present and future. The Center supports the mission of Healthy West Orange, a grassroots movement to inspire west Orange County to become the healthiest community in the nation. Working with its partners, the Center will provide important tools and social connections to help residents eat well, stay active and enjoy life. This project is funded in part by a $1 million lead grant from the West Orange Healthcare District, as well as funding from Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program and countless other donors. For more information, visit www.oaklandfl.gov/artsandheritage and www.facebook.com/HWOAHatOakland.

About HAPCO Music Foundation

In 2021, HAPCO Music Foundation is celebrating 20 years of community service. Since 2001, HAPCO has educated and inspired over 25,000 young people – encouraging them to use their musical, culinary and artistic talents to fund their college education or to pursue professional careers. With their programs, young people in the community are improving their lives – using their artistic and musical talents to shape a better future, focusing their energies upon honing their talent and doing better in school. HAPCO programs are offered typically free of charge and are designed to empower growth and development in creative fields. Some programs, such as Jazz Band Camp, require a nominal cost that helps cover program costs. For more, visit hapcopromo.org/ and facebook.com/HapcoMusicFoundation.