Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival Presents The Great American Songbook in Partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts as Part of Freedom250 Educational Programming

Special Educational Assembly for Elementary School Students to Feature Nationally Recognized Student Musicians, Student Reflections on America’s Future, and a program focused on America@250 in partnership with Freedom 250.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter will be in attendance.

WEST JORDAN, Utah — Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival, in partnership Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse and with the generous support of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, will present The Great American Songbook, a special educational assembly celebrating America’s artistic and cultural legacy through music, storytelling, and student creativity.

The event will take place on Wednesday, May 13 from 1:30pm–2:30pm at Majestic Arts Academy, located at 7430 S Redwood Rd, West Jordan, UT 84084 with a brief Q&A and photo opportunity to follow.

Presented as part of Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival’s Garden of Heroes grant programming connected to Freedom250, the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the program will bring together nationally recognized young musicians, elementary students, educators, and arts leaders in a celebration of America’s cultural legacy and the next generation of creative voices.

A particularly meaningful aspect of the event will be a student-centered “Hope for America” reflection activity, in which students will share statements about their hopes for America’s future and the role that creativity, compassion, education, and community can play in shaping the next generation. These reflections will be collected and shared with the NEA as part of the broader Freedom250 celebration.

The program will also feature performances by the award winning Crescent SuperBand from Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse, as well as some young student performers from Majestic Arts Academy, highlighting the next generation of artists and creative leaders.

Founded by acclaimed music educator Caleb Chapman, Soundhouse has become internationally recognized for developing elite young musicians and preparing students for professional careers in music and entertainment. Its ensembles — including the Crescent SuperBand — have received top honors from DownBeat and have performed at venues and festivals including Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the North Sea Jazz Festival.

Musical selections presented during The Great American Songbook will celebrate iconic American composers and artists including Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday, reflecting the enduring influence of American music on culture around the world.

Mary Anne Carter, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, is expected to attend the event during her visit to Utah as part of the NEA’s Freedom250-related activities and engagement with arts and educational partners in Utah.

“The heart of this event is giving young people an opportunity to engage with America’s artistic legacy while also sharing their own voices and hopes for the future,” said Julia Levitan, Founder & CEO of Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival. “At a moment when so much national conversation feels divided, we believe there is something incredibly powerful and hopeful about students coming together through music, creativity, and storytelling, especially as we approach America’s 250th Birthday this July.”

Designed to celebrate the power of the arts to connect generations and communities, The Great American Songbook reflects Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival’s broader mission to build human-centered experiences at the intersection of arts, education, culture, and innovation.

About Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival

Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival is a Utah-based nonprofit organization dedicated to creating meaningful experiences at the intersection of arts, education, storytelling, and innovation. Through performances, educational programs, and immersive cultural initiatives, Eden Arts and Immersive Media Festival works to connect communities and inspire the next generation of creative leaders.

About Majestic Arts Academy

Majestic Arts Academy is a public elementary school in West Jordan, Utah focused on integrating the arts into everyday learning and student development. Through music, theater, dance, visual arts, and creative expression, the school encourages students to develop confidence, collaboration, creativity, and a lifelong connection to the arts.

About Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse

Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse is an internationally recognized contemporary music training program based in Utah that prepares young musicians for professional careers in music and entertainment. Its award-winning ensembles — including the Crescent SuperBand — have received national honors from DownBeat and have performed at leading venues and festivals around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the North Sea Jazz Festival.