News and Events

Exciting New Chapter for the Cincinnati Jazz Academy

Celebrating the Legacy of Cincinnati Jazz Academy Founder Dr. Isidore Rudnick

Kennedy Heights Arts Center (KHAC) announces the upcoming retirement of Dr. Isidore Rudnick, Founder and Director of the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. A passionate educator, visionary arts administrator, and tireless advocate, Dr. Rudnick has left an indelible mark on thousands of students throughout his remarkable career.

Rudnick founded the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, an after-school program providing barrier-free jazz music education for Cincinnati Public Schools students in grades 4-12, with KHAC Executive Director Ellen Muse and jazz advocate Albert Harris in 2018. Since that time, the academy has grown from 25 beginner students to 140 students meeting five days a week, and has garnered national attention. The innovative program offers students comprehensive jazz instruction led by experienced, professional jazz artists, along with bus transportation, instruments and meals—all at no cost.

Students participate in master classes with renowned guest artists and perform on prestigious stages from the Aronoff Center for the Arts (Cincinnati) to New York City to Barcelona, Spain. In 2024, Cincinnati Jazz Academy students excelled at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, earning nine awards in the national competition. This summer, the group will travel to Portugal to perform in the Lisbon International Music Festival.

Dr. Rudnick also served as Artistic Director of the School for Creative and Performing Arts and as Fine and Performing Arts Curriculum Manager for Cincinnati Public Schools. His leadership and dedication have inspired generations of young artists through the power of music.

On May 28, students, families, and community members honored Dr. Rudnick’s legacy at a retirement celebration at Kennedy Heights Arts Center. The evening included a special program with testimonials from colleague and students, videos, and performances by the talented students of the Cincinnati Jazz Academy.

Dr. Rudnick’s impact as an educator, leader, and champion for jazz leaves a lasting legacy in our community.

Transformational Gift Ensures Future of Jazz Academy

In a testament to Dr. Rudnick’s lasting impact, Kennedy Heights Arts Center has received a $3 million endowment gift from an anonymous donor to sustain the Cincinnati Jazz Academy. This generous contribution will endow the position of Artistic Director in perpetuity and provide vital ongoing support for the groundbreaking program, affirming our commitment to making high-quality jazz education accessible to all for generations to come.

“We are deeply grateful for this visionary investment in our students and our community,” said Ellen Muse, Executive Director of Kennedy Heights Arts Center. “This gift ensures that young people from all backgrounds will continue to have access to unparalleled opportunities to develop their musical skills for generations to come.”



New Cincinnati Jazz Academy Director Named

As the program turns a new page, Kennedy Heights Arts Center is proud to announce the appointment of Ralph DiSylvestro as the new Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Jazz Academy.

A dynamic jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator, DiSylvestro brings a wealth of experience and deep passion for jazz to the role. A Philadelphia native, he studied with Terell Stafford at Temple University as an undergraduate and earned a Master’s in Music from Northern Illinois University.

Over the course of his eclectic, multi-instrumental career, Ralph has performed as a lead trumpeter, soloist, pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist alongside notable musicians such as Dick Oatts, Jon Faddis, Dennis Mackrel, Bobby Watson, and others in the Philadelphia/New York Latin jazz scene. From international jazz tours in Germany and Peru to national off-Broadway tours and performances at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club, Smoke and other prominent jazz clubs, DiSylvestro’s career has provided many valuable and rewarding experiences that he has used to educate the next generation of burgeoning jazz students.

Locally, he is a regular performer with the Blue Wisp Big Band, The Original Farm League Big Band, and the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and leads his own ensemble, The Cincinnati Jazz Messengers.

Since 1998, Ralph has shared his passion for jazz through teaching. He currently serves as a professor at Xavier University, directing the Jazz Ensemble, as well as maintaining a private teaching studio.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ralph to the Cincinnati Jazz Academy,” said Muse. “His exceptional artistry, commitment to education, and deep knowledge of jazz make him the ideal leader to carry this program forward and inspire the next generation of jazz musicians.”

Make Jazz Education Accessible to All

If you’d like to honor Dr. Rudnick’s legacy and ensure the future of the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, consider making a donation here.

Your tax-deductible gift helps provide extraordinary music education and performance opportunities to students who might not otherwise have access. It empowers young people to thrive—on stage, in school, and in life.

Ongoing support for the Cincinnati Jazz Academy is provided by Activities Beyond the Classroom, the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation, the Mayerson Foundation Artistic Excellence Program, and Albert Harris.