Panama Jazz Festival closes its most recent edition with more than 13,000 attendees and a strong cultural and educational impact

The closing concert, held in the Central Quadrangle of the City of Knowledge and featuring a performance by Moncho Rivera, drew more than 8,000 people; the festival invited more than 170 national and international artists, held more than 40 educational, artistic and cultural activities, becoming a massive celebration of music, culture and jazz.

Throughout the week, the festival offered a diverse program that included concerts, clinics, workshops, and academic activities, highlighting its commitment to musical education and the development of young talent. As part of this year's special events, an award was presented to the family of Panamanian saxophonist Gladston "Bat" Gordon, who was honored at this twenty-third edition for his legacy
and contribution to the history of jazz.

During the closing concert, one of the festival's most significant moments took place with the awarding of international scholarships to outstanding young musicians. Berklee College of Music granted summer course scholarships to Gilberto Campos, Ana Jurado, Sebastián Canales, and Camila Riquelme, while Lucas Maylin received a scholarship for the New England Conservatory's (NEC) summer course and a full scholarship to pursue his professional studies at Berklee College of Music, valued at approximately $240,000. This reaffirmed the Panama Jazz Festival's commitment to education and the international promotion of emerging talent. In addition to the international scholarships, the festival celebrated the Ministry of Culture, which awarded 10 national scholarships to students from various regions of the country (Veraguas, Bocas del Toro, Colón, and Panama City) to pursue the innovative Master's Program in Global Music Therapy at the Specialized University of the Americas.

In his farewell remarks, Danilo Pérez, founder and director of the Panama Jazz Festival, expressed his deep gratitude to the festival's executive director, Patricia Zárate, the Danilo Pérez Foundation team, the festival coordinators, the young volunteers, and the communities that benefited, highlighting the commitment, transparency, and perseverance that made this year's achievements possible. “There should be no doubt about the real and transformative impact this event has on our country. You are the flame that keeps my hope alive and my conviction to continue along the path of music as a tool for education, awareness, and social transformation,” he stated, further emphasizing that the Panama Jazz Festival continues to make history with responsibility, dignity, and love for future generations.

In addition to its artistic and educational impact, the Panama Jazz Festival generated a significant cultural and tourist movement, strengthening Panama's international projection and consolidating the country as a meeting point for music, youth and culture.

Tourists and guests from the United States, Japan, Chile, Spain, Argentina, among other countries, stood out for their presence at the festival events.

The Panama Jazz Festival organization thanks the artists, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and the public who made this edition a success, and is already beginning preparations for its next edition.

The Panama Jazz Festival is made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture of Panama, Banco Nacional, Copa Airlines, GVA Hospitality, Publimovil, Agua Cristalina, Ron Abuelo, Cerveza Cristal and Budget Rent a Car, produced by Panama Jazz Productions for the benefit of the Danilo Pérez Foundation, under the co-production of Ciudad del Saber.

Source: Panama Jazz Festival.