Oklahoma Jazz Hall Of Fame

On June 19th one of the great historic landmarks in the city of Tulsa became the new home to the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. When you walk into the newly renovated building located on 1st and Cincinnati a certain aura surrounds you. It’s a feeling that brings to mind that Tulsa has long been a city with a rich history of jazz. The warm earth tones used to paint the walls, the marble flooring in the foyer, and the vaulted ceilings coupled with the detailed columns are aesthetically pleasing and exude elegance. The theatre promises to host a list of great performances with the JazzFest held on June 23rd having already been a huge success. To maintain memories of your visit the gift boutique has a wide variety of trinkets, postcards, and jazz memorabilia from which to choose; and if you want to quench your palette or tickle your taste buds the Jazz Café is sure to do the trick.

 

Eight years ago acting CEO, Chuck Cissel was invited to come in and breathe new life into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Now that the project is thriving it’s no surprise that their vision for the jazz hall extends far beyond the city limits. Mr. Cissel shared that he would like to see the OJHF as an “international destination for many within the next five years”. The music venue is a key component to the Vision 2025 project which as a whole is well on its way to creating a new standard of entertainment in our city. Through their motto “creating unity through music”, the OJHF also hopes to establish a new diverse multicultural environment, because as Mr. Cissel stated, “everyone should be under the umbrella of this universal language.”

 

Another promising aspect of the OJHF is the educational components. Their music library provides an extensive collection of books, records, and artifacts that document the plight of this amazing art form. They are avid supporters of the VH1 “Save the Music” campaign, and it is evident. The presence of their Summer Arts Institute, the Performing Arts Academy which kicks off in the fall, and the teen Tulsa Honors Orchestra reinforces the fact that this organization is actively involved in making a major difference within our community.

Partnerships with many established businesses in the surrounding Tulsa area along with a number of local high schools and state universities goes to show that the new Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is a “hot spot” for people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Mr. Cissel informs that, “This is only the beginning of many great things to come.” If that’s the case we will all be anxiously waiting to see and hear what he has in store.