Gift of Jazz Next Up series

Jazz pianist, composer, singer and producer Chantil Dukart opens up about her journey — from her Indigenous Alaskan roots (Tsimshian and Sugpiaq) to her evolution as a Denver-based artist shaping modern jazz. In this full interview, Chantil discusses the artists who inspire her, from Ravel and Nat King Cole to Marilyn Monroe, and how they’ve influenced her creative balance between precision and vulnerability. She shares what it means to tell deeply personal stories through music, the challenge of emotional honesty, and the creation of her alter-ego Chantron, the fearless character at the heart of her album Chantron Universe.

Elementary school students clap along during a Jazz for the Schools presentation, crafted by Gift of Jazz and hosted at Dazzle Denver. Many rows of students clap and watch the stage.

JAZZ FOR THE SCHOOLS

Since 2011 Gift of Jazz has been presenting the Jazz for the Schools programs. This is a monthly series that provides an educational and musical experience for students who are in 4th-12th grade. We began in Denver Public Schools. In 2024 we expanded the program to Adams 12 and 14 school districts, and in 2025 we are beginning work in Jefferson County. This brings our reach to ~1500 students per year! Many of these students have never had the opportunity to be inspired by the sound of live jazz. During their Jazz for the Schools experience they get to enjoy music performance by professionals, and they get to interact with the music as they learn about the history, the structure of the music, the cultural significance, and much more.