For the third consecutive year, the Lenny Peters Foundation and Bethany Medical sponsored the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, bringing thousands of people to High Point for a weekend centered around music, community and the legacy of one of the city’s most influential musicians. Held Sept. 5–6 at Oak Hollow Festival Park, this year’s event marked the festival’s 15th year. Approximately 3,500 visitors from 11 states attended, generating more than 2,500 hotel room nights and nearly $700,000 in economic impact for the High Point community.
A Musical Legacy Rooted in High Point
Before John Coltrane became one of jazz’s most influential names, his musical journey took shape in High Point.
Coltrane was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, but grew up in High Point, where he first learned to play the saxophone. Years later, community members came together to ensure that connection would be remembered. High Point dedicated an eight-foot bronze statue honoring Coltrane in 2006, followed by the formation of the Friends of John Coltrane in 2009.
Two years later, the first John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival was held. Now in its 15th year, the festival continues to bring musicians and music lovers together in the community that played an important role in Coltrane’s early life.
Sharing Music With the Next Generation
The festival celebrates Coltrane’s legacy, but its purpose also looks toward the next generation. The Friends of John Coltrane, the nonprofit organization behind the festival, works to preserve
and celebrate Coltrane’s life and music while introducing others to jazz and other musical genres. One of the festival’s stated objectives is to help educate young people and introduce them to these forms of music.
That focus naturally connects with the Lenny Peters Foundation’s mission. Here at home and around the world, the Foundation supports organizations and initiatives that provide meaningful support and strengthen the communities they serve. The Foundation helps celebrate an important part of High Point’s history while supporting an event that introduces new generations to music.
An Impact Across High Point
The festival’s impact is also felt throughout the High Point community. Thousands of visitors supported local hotels, restaurants, retailers and other businesses during their stay.
Supporting the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival gives the Lenny Peters Foundation and Bethany Medical an opportunity to be part of an event that celebrates High Point in several ways. It honors the legacy of a musician with deep ties to the city, brings people together through music and contributes to the cultural and economic vitality of the community.
Fifteen years later, John Coltrane’s connection to High Point continues to bring people together in the community that helped shape the beginning of his musical journey.