In 2000, Delfeayo founded Uptown Music Theatre, a summer arts program, in New Orleans, specifically to provide junior high and high school youth with musical theatre training. To date, UMT has prepared over 300 students and staged en original musicals: Kidstown, The Pirate’s Conspirate, Jaz and Jazmine Meet the Jazz Band, A New Tale of the Old West, Carol Carol Caroling, Obalaba County, Storyville (G-Rated), Crescent City Stories, Underground Railroad and Friends 4 Life.

UMT’s children perform throughout the community year-round, including the seasonal, “Carol, Carol, Caroling…” which is presented at local nursing homes, shelters and Children’s Hospital. In 2006, UMT began its groundbreaking “Swinging with the Cool School,” a soft introduction to jazz for parents and hip tots! To date “Cool School” has presented over 50 shows to 1200 students nationally.

For more information about the Uptown Music Theatre visit the website.

View Uptown Music Theatre Gallery

Swinging with the Cool School
is an educational initiative that gets residencies at various schools.

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 actually helped music education, in Delfeayo's view, by calling attention to the need, some of which is met by after-school programs he's been active in establishing.

Education has always been a passion of Delfeayo's and while on tour he seeks out opportunities to engage students through workshops and clinics. During his current tour schedule he recently conducted a workshop
with students at a Minnesota High School, and an impromptu workshop with the Jackson State University trombone section.