Nat King Cole Generation Hope proudly supports schools and organizations that are committed to providing quality music education to children with the greatest need and fewest resources.
EVENTS
2024 DATES TBA
February 25, 2023 / 12 – 4 PM
RSVP info@natkingcolegenhope.org or Call 561.213.8209.
Food Trucks + Free Admission!
@ Palm Beach State College – Lake Worth
Project Encore! Upcycling Project Program
Debut exhibit in partnership with Palm Beach State College, Yamaha Corporation of America and with support from Resource Depot.
Showcasing students, faculty + programs with live demos, exhibits + performances… Fine Art, Graphic Design, Film, Music, Interior Design + Theatre.
ABOUT OUR PROJECT: Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Palm Beach State College, Yamaha Corporation of America, and Resource Depot worked together to create art and music using recycled materials to raise funds to provide access to music education for students in need.
PBSC Students in the fall and spring semesters’ 3D Design classes were provided Yamaha guitars, recycled art supplies and the time and space to create unique assemblage sculptures. Students worked with professors to learn about not only the history of assemblage and three-dimensional form, but also concepts surrounding narrative and their own personal experience with music. Music Department Students also had the learning opportunity to collaborate and create original music to pair with selected artwork.
Our goal is to promote this project and collaboration across Palm Beach County through pop-up exhibits culminating in an auction to raise funds for music education! To learn more or become involved, please contact Shanna St. John, Executive Director at sstjohn@natkingcolegenhope.org.

2024 DATES TBA
June 12 – 16 & June 19 – 23, 2023
Email info@natkingcolegenhope.org or Call 561.213.8209.
For Elementary & Middle School Students
@ Lynn University
Now in its 13th year, this two-week summer music camp dedicated to elementary & middle-level string students serves children in the Palm Beach County area with the greatest need and fewest resources and culminates in a free community concert on the final day. To be added to the concert invite list, please email info@natkingcolegenhope.org.
The Summer Strings program is led by NKCGH, Palm Beach County School District teachers and music mentors from Lynn University, and generously supported by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Boca West Children’s Foundation, and Palm Beach County.

June 21, 2024
General Public
NKCGH launched “Make Music Palm Beach County” among South Florida’s celebrations of Make Music Day, the world’s largest, single-day music festival (based on France’s Fête de la Musique). On June 21, the longest day of the year, free, live, individual & group musical performers take the stage online, in homes and venues across the region. Make Music Palm Beach County joins 1,000 cities in 120 countries for this global event, and as a member of the Make Music Alliance, with more than 85 other U.S. cities in supporting this day of music.

2024 DATES TBA
July 11 – 13, 2023 / 12 – 3 PM
Virtual – Zoom
Music educators from across the U.S. and beyond are invited to join us for the 4th annual Music Educators Conference including three days of thought provoking and timely topics curated for Music Educators!

2024 DATES TBA
July 31 – August 4, 2023
For Middle + High School Students
VanderCook College of Music, Chicago
This one-week summer music camp for middle and high school-level band students is embarking on its first year in Chicago, IL, and focuses on children with the greatest need and fewest resources. The program is collaboratively led by NKCGH, VanderCook College of Music Chair for Jazz Studies, Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III, as well as Vandercook students serving as music mentors. Summer Jazz is generously supported by The Kathy Hutchings Family Foundation.

2024 DATES TBA
August 31st, 2023
6:30 – 10PM
@ Pavilion Grille, Boca Raton
ADVANCE TICKET SALES END AT MIDNIGHT AUGUST 30th.
Event Day Tickets will only be available at the venue starting at 6pm.
Local celebrities and community favorites will be pulling out all the stops when they perform in the annual Lip Sync Battle benefiting Nat King Cole Generation Hope Inc. to raise funds for music education.

August 3, 2023
@ Chicago Winery – 739 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
6PM – 7PM VIP Reception
7PM – 9PM Dance Party
A memorable evening and dance party to bolster access to transformative music education for our city’s under-served children benefiting Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. Summer Jazz at VanderCook College of Music.
An innovative, tuition-free music camp program (July 31 – August 4) that serves 100 Chicago-area middle & high school music students, and is facilitated by Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III, esteemed music education scholar & practitioner.
Featuring a VIP Reception with Casey Cole-Ray and Timolin Cole-Augustus twin daughters of iconic music artist Nat King Cole and co-founders of his namesake charity, because all youth, like their father, deserve a path to achieve greatness through music. Entertainment by Summer Jazz at VanderCook College of Music Teachers, Students and Mentors followed by an Old School R&B Chicago House Music Dance Party!

EVENTS SHOWCASING OUR MUSIC STUDENTS
PROGRAMS
Our program recruits and places select graduate and post-graduate music mentors in elementary and secondary schools to work with students during the academic year, under the guidance of school directors. Mentors and school educators/administrators closely collaborate to create and implement lesson plans tailored to individual students and group.

A four-year college scholarship bestowed to a deserving and excelling high school student who wishes to further his/her education and pursue their dreams in the field of music. The George Snow Scholarship Fund was selected by Nat King Cole Generation Hope to administer this scholarship commitment, by identifying potential candidates, managing the application process, and mentoring the student recipient.
2023 / Olga Borrero, Broward College
2022 / Dana Wolfe, Florida State University
2020 / Samuel Soliz, University of Central Florida
2020 / Matthew Velilla, University of North Texas
2019 / Aidan Dixon, University of Central Florida
2018 / Rachel Gebeloff, Florida State University
2017 / Caleb Miller, Florida State University
2016 / Jon Paul Nesheiwat, Nashville State Community College


AD Henderson University School
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
American Senior High School
Arts and Culture Center of Ft Lauderdale
Arts Garage
Bak Middle School of the Arts
Banyan Creek Elementary School
Bear Lakes Middle School
Belvedere Elementary School
Berkshire Elementary School
Boca Raton Community High School
Boca Raton Middle School
Boca Raton Symphonia
Carver Community Middle School
Cholee Lake Elementary School
Congress Middle School
Cypress Bay High School
Dillard High School
Don Estridge High Tech Middle School
Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune Elementary School
Egret Lake Elementary School
Florida Youth Orchestra
Forest Hill Community High School
Guitars Over Guns Operation
Heritage Elementary School
Irie Foundation
Jaega Middle School
JFK Middle School
KEC/Canal Point Elementary School
Lake Worth Community High School
Lake Worth Middle School
Loggers Run Community Middle School
Lynn University Conservatory of Music
Make Music Palm Beach County
Miami Senior High School
New World School of the Performing Arts
New World Symphony
Northmore Elementary School
Northwest Miami Senior High School
Okeechobee High School
Olympic Heights Community High School
Omni Middle School
Osceola County School for the Arts
Palm Beach Public School
Palm Springs Elementary
Palmetto Elementary School
Piper High School
Plumosa Elementary School of the Arts
Riviera Beach Boys and Girls Club
Roosevelt Community Middle School
Sandpiper Shores Elementary School
South Tech Academy
Spanish River High School
Summer Jazz at FAU
Summer Strings at Lynn University
Tequesta Trace Middle School
The Conservatory School at North Palm Beach
The Nat and Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship
U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School of the Arts
Watson B. Duncan Middle School
Wellington Community High School
Wellington Elementary School
West Boca Raton Community High School
Western Pines Middle School
Youth Activity Center
Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County
Summer Strings at VanderCook College of Music
Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
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