Six Established Leaders Expand American Jazz Museum’s Board of Directors, Bringing Fresh Perspectives, Decades of Experience, and Ties to the Music Industry
By:
For Immediate Release
Date: January 27, 2025
Contact: Parris Communications
Tavarus Pennington tpennington@parriscommunications.com
919.455.0568
Six Established Leaders Expand American Jazz Museum’s Board of Directors, Bringing Fresh Perspectives, Decades of Experience, and Ties to the Music Industry
Kansas City, Mo. (January 27, 2025) – The American Jazz Museum (AJM) is excited to announce the addition of six new leaders to its Board of Directors, marking a pivotal step in the museum’s evolution. With the growth, AJM now has 15 board members total and the first two non-local board members in the organization’s history. The new board members bring different perspectives, large networks and notoriety in the music industry.
Ashley Jordan, Ph.D., Ava Delsemme, Jon Copaken, Joseph Baldassare, Pierre Yancy, and Scott Smith bring a wealth of expertise across history, urban development, public policy and the music industry. Their insight and shared passion for Kansas City’s rich jazz heritage will play a transformative role in advancing the museum’s mission and connecting its legacy to national audiences.
“Our board reflects virtues we hold closely: collaboration alongside a deep respect for the legacy and future of jazz,” said Dina Bennett, Ph.D., Executive Director at AJM. “For the first time, our leadership team will welcome members outside the Kansas City community, meaning we are positioned better than ever to connect Kansas City’s jazz legacy to the broader cultural and musical conversation.”
AJM welcomes the following new members to its board of directors:
· Ashley Jordan, Ph.D. is a distinguished historian and executive with notable national experience including her presidential appointment to the National Museum and Library Services Board. Jordan serves as the President and CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, follows in the footsteps of Rowena Stewart, founding Executive Director of AJM and former director and curator of the African American Museum in Philadelphia from 1985-1992. Jordan offers significant experienced managing and leading cultural institutions focused on memorializing and celebrating the African American experience in the U.S. She was recently appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as a member of the National Museum and Library Services Board
· Ava Delsemme combines an array of career experiences with a vibrant approach to creating change. From studying musical theatre at Carnegie Mellon University, to working on Capitol Hill, to her current role as Director of Public Policy for the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Delsemme is devoted to uplifting communities. In addition to AJM, Delsemme serves on the Coterie Theatre Board of Directors and the University of Missouri Public Affairs Alumni Advisory Board.
· Jon Copaken is a visionary leader in urban development as a principal at Copaken Brooks. He has been instrumental in projects like the revitalization of the Crossroads Arts District and downtown Kansas City. His dedication to community engagement aligns with AJM’s mission to preserve Kansas City’s cultural legacy and inspire future generations.
· Joseph Baldassare (known as “Joey Balin”) is a New York City-based producer and songwriter whose record sales exceed 20 million units. After producing records for Elektra and Polydor in New York, Baldassare spent two decades in Europe as a producer and A&R consultant, earning gold and platinum sales awards across Western Europe. His curatorial work with the Parisian Buddha Bar’s Living Theater series continues to reach global audiences.
· Pierre Yancy joins the board as a seasoned communicator with diverse industry experiences. Currently serving as the Managing Partner of Lumova Energy and Owner of Lumova Aerial & Media, Yancy is a demonstrated leader at the institutional and community levels. In addition to his professional endeavors, Yancy is deeply committed to community service as a board member of Nourish KC, Empower Missouri, and YES Liberia.
· Scott Smith is an avid community supporter, joining the AJM board as an ex-officio member. Smith is the former HNTB Corporation CEO, retiring in 2013 after 28 years. Smith currently chairs the Jazz District Renaissance Corporation (JDRC) in addition to serving as Board member with the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, MRIGlobal, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Advancement Board of the Kansas University Medical Center.
“Kansas City’s Jazz district is experiencing a true renaissance founded not only in the history and culture of the district, but also on the active collaboration of the institutional pillars of the area,” Smith said. “The JDRC is pleased to be part of this continuing success in connecting our jazz district to Kansas City and to the world.”
For AJM, creating new pathways to understand the cultural significance of Kansas City’s history in jazz is crucial to the museum’s future.
“Welcoming these new board members is an exciting opportunity for us to continue advancing as an essential cultural institution not just for our city and region, but also for the entire country,” said Dan Cranshaw, Board Chair at AJM. “Each additional voice brings insight that will steer AJM and the 18th and Vine district into the future.”
The addition of these six leaders marks a milestone for the American Jazz Museum. Their expertise, dedication to community enrichment, and passion for preserving jazz heritage will help AJM remain a beacon for jazz, education, and innovation. Together, they will help position AJM and the historic 18th & Vine district as central to the story of jazz both locally and nationally.
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About the American Jazz MuseumThe mission of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City is to celebrate and exhibit the experience of jazz as an original American art form through performance, exhibition, education, and research at one of the country’s jazz crossroads – 18th & Vine. As the only museum in the world solely focused on the preservation, exhibition and advancement of jazz music, the American Jazz Museum is dedicated to public service and collaborative efforts to expand the influence, awareness and appreciation of jazz among the widest demographic of people across the Kansas City region, as well as among those based in various locations worldwide. For a complete list of upcoming programs and performances, visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org
