Last week we honored our longtime teaching artist Phil Bingham on his retirement, who after years teaching in NYC public schools, found his second calling as the beloved choir director at John F. Kennedy School, an ungraded special needs public school in Newark and one of our earliest-established JAZZ HOUSE in-school programs. Partnering with JFK’s music therapist Miyuki Rivera and principal Jill Summers-Phillips, Mr. Bingham has made an incredible impact in a generation of students of all abilities, bringing out the song in every child’s heart.
Mr. Bingham was honored at both our annual holiday party at the JAZZ HOUSE by Melissa Walker, Christian McBride and Associate Director of JAZZ HOUSE In-School Education Brianne Ford and a surprise celebration at JFK School with colleagues, students and former students. We can’t thank Mr. Bingham enough for his dedication and years of selfless service and all the supporters of this heart-warming program over the years.
