ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR JAZZ TERELL STAFFORD

Following January 2019’s presentation of JAZZED! The Philly POPS BIG Band with Terell Stafford, The Philly POPS appointed Philly jazz legend and renowned music educator Terell Stafford to the position of Artistic Director for Jazz.  

As the Artistic Director for Jazz, Terell directs the All-City Jazz Orchestra, continuing this seven-year-old partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and the POPS. Terell expanded The Philly POPS’ POPS in Schools programming to include new opportunities — bringing credentialed jazz musicians to schools throughout the School District of Philadelphia, while creating programs to bring student performers into the concert hall. In the summer of 2022, Stafford built a new curriculum for a robust Jazz Orchestra summer camp partnered again with the Philadelphia School District. The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, which Terell also directs, is presented by The Philly POPS — creating The Philly POPS Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia and adding the jazz orchestra’s performances to The Philly POPS’ roster of activities. See Our Upcoming Jazz Shows.

A renowned and multifaceted jazz musician, Terell’s album BrotherLee Love, Celebrating Lee Morgan received a 47th annual NAACP Image Award Nomination. His most recent album, Family Feeling, was released in 2018 under BCM&D Records. Terell has won a GRAMMY award as a member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra for the album Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard in 2009 and has been nominated for seven GRAMMY awards for his performances with the Clayton Brothers, Diana Krall, Bobby Watson, and more. 

Terell is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University. For his work as an educator, Terell received Temple’s “Creative Achievement Award.” Terell has conducted the All-City Jazz Orchestra, an all-audition honor band created through a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and the POPS, since its creation in 2015. With The POPS, Terrel is expanding the All-City Jazz program’s footprint—helping raise the city’s next generation of jazz musicians and music lovers.