OPINION | Honoring Quincy Jones' Legacy Means Supporting Jazz for Seattle Youth

My name is Miles, and I play trumpet — so you know I love jazz.

Jazz is exciting, full of feeling and style. I love the trumpet because its sound makes me feel free and allows me to connect with other musicians. But here's the problem: At my high school, Franklin High, we don't have a jazz band. We don't even have a class fully devoted to band or orchestra anymore. Because of budget cuts, we now have one music class that combines band and orchestra, all in the same room, with one teacher for everyone. That's right — brass, strings, woodwinds, percussion, jazz lovers, and classical musicians — all jumbled together.

Seattle jazz and music programs have been in the news a lot of late because, sadly, the musical genius Quincy Jones recently passed away, and everyone is talking about how much he meant to our city and to music around the world. He was not only a jazz musician of the highest caliber, but he also fused different styles and helped transform many genres of music. Quincy lifted up new artists and always stayed connected to his roots here in Seattle. He gave back to Garfield High School's jazz band, supporting band director Clarence Acox in making it one of the best in the country.

In 2008, Garfield named their performing arts center after Quincy, and just last year, he donated $50,000 to Washington Middle School, which feeds into Garfield, to keep their jazz program alive. The song Quincy produced for The Brothers Johnson, titled "I'll Be Good to You," might as well have been written about his commitment to Seattle's young musicians. When our pep band learned to play "Thriller," one of Quincy's most famous productions, I was proud to play it, knowing Quincy got his start in our city and did so much to support the music scene here.

Quincy's support for keeping jazz alive at Garfield is inspiring, but it also makes me wonder why other schools, like Franklin, can't have a thriving jazz program too. The lack of support for jazz at Franklin is especially hard to accept when you consider the school's history. In the 1970s, Franklin had one of the top high school jazz bands in the nation, known as the Franklin Jazz Lab. They won festivals locally and nationally, including the Reno Jazz Festival, and were even featured in DownBeat magazine and on Jazz After Hours with Jim Wilke. Known for their funky, hip sound, the Franklin Jazz Lab stood out by playing fresh, innovative tunes that went beyond typical swing and bebop. Musicians like Duwamish tribe member James Rasmussen built careers on the foundation Franklin's jazz band provided. And of course, Kenny G came up through Franklin's jazz program and benefited greatly — today, he's one of the wealthiest instrumentalists in history. Today, Franklin's great jazz legacy is slipping away as the music program struggles without enough funding.

Seattle has launched the careers of jazz legends like Ray Charles and musical innovators like Jimi Hendrix. It's heartbreaking that so many students in our city are being denied the chance to be part of this tradition. I joined the regular school band — and I do greatly appreciate my teacher and enjoy playing in it — but it's not the same. Jazz requires a space to experiment, push limits, and improvise. It's all about collaboration and freedom, and without a jazz band, I'm missing out on those experiences. So are a lot of other kids who want to pursue jazz.

The state of Washington should be fully funding education, and its refusal to do so is negatively impacting enriching programs like art and music at schools like Franklin. According to Forbes, Washington is tied for the most billionaires of any state (and has more wealth per "Forbes 400" member than any other state), yet because the rich aren't paying their fair share of taxes, education funding continues to fall. The state has slashed K–12 spending from over 50% of the state budget during the 2018–19 school year to only 43.1% in 2023–24. Washington ranks within the lowest third of states in the nation for school funding relative to its economic resources. These budget cuts to education show the state's values, and the devaluing of me and my peers is unacceptable.

Fund Washington Schools, a newly formed coalition that helped to successfully fight off proposed school closures in Seattle, is now leading the charge to demand fully funded public education across Washington State by putting pressure on those with power and resources. My message to the people who can fix this — state lawmakers, the school district, and even successful alumni — is simple: Support music programs in all schools.

Seattle is a city built on jazz and other imaginative musical traditions, and it should be a city that supports future musicians too; music education shouldn't be a privilege only for some schools. Quincy Jones gave back to keep jazz alive for the next generation. It's time for other adults with resources — who you know are often humming along to their favorite Qunicy song — to do the same.

The South Seattle Emerald is committed to holding space for a variety of viewpoints within our community, with the understanding that differing perspectives do not negate mutual respect amongst community members.

The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the contributors on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the Emerald or official policies of the Emerald.

Miles Hagopian is a sophomore at Franklin High School, a musician, a member of the Speak With Purpose speaker's bureau, and a cofounder of the Seattle Student Union. Jesse Hagopian, Miles' dad, helped him with this piece. Miles and Jesse are both members of Fund Washington Schools.

Editors' Note: This article was edited on Feb. 24, 2025, to incorporate updated information.