How it Began
Original Key of She Jazz Ensemble, est. 2014
When she was just 12 years old, Olivia Hughart and a friend noticed they were among the only female players in their middle school jazz big band, despite nearly equal numbers of girls and boys in band and orchestra. An idea took shape, and with the help of their director, Dr. Jenny Neff, they brought together girls in jazz throughout their district, built connections, and inspired the younger girls to keep playing. Key of She Jazz (www.keyofshejazz.org) was officially founded in 2014.
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In high school, Key of She Jazz continued to grow, including girls from across the district. As a high school senior, Olivia expanded her vision and held a first-ever live Key of She Jazz conference in April 2019 that featured phenomenal women in jazz, performers, panelists, and speakers and was attended by more than 200 girls and their bandmates, band directors and educators, parents, and supporters. Our 2020 conference was canceled just weeks prior due to the pandemic, but since then, we've held four Virtual Weeks with attendees from across the USA and around the globe. We also held two in-person “Key of She Jazz Jams” featuring performances by prominent jazz women from Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, DC. We are working on dates for our next live and virtual events and are committed to growing Key of She Jazz and expanding our community of support. Join Us!
Mission Statement
Our mission is to support and encourage girls and young women in jazz, starting in the middle school years through high school, college, and beyond so that we inspire change and ultimately help equalize the ratio of girls to guys in jazz, starting in schools. We also aim to grow the community of support including jazz students of all genders, jazz and music directors/educators, parents, and allies. We do this with free events that create conversation and build understanding of the obstacles to women in jazz, recognize jazz women whose contributions have been under-recognized, and create opportunities for connection among all, so that jazz girls and young women can feel supported and increase participation in jazz.
Key of She hopes to make a more lasting impact, encouraging young girls to take up their instrument of choice, continue their jazz studies, and take their skills into the jazz and music industry.
We are 100% volunteer, and we fundraise as a 501(c)(3) in the state of Pennsylvania.
Olivia Hughart
Olivia Hughart is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, advocate, and a graduate of New York University, with a major in Jazz Studies with a minor in Public Policy and Management. She is a gigging and recording musician with bands in New York City, Philadelphia, and beyond. Hughart is a member of the NYChillharmonic, the Grace Fox Big Band, the Andrew Neu Big Band, and Triad Brass, and has performed with the New Heights Brass Band, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and is frequently called for off-Broadway productions. Hughart has attracted the attention of the press from various publications including Philly Magazine, NPR Live Sessions, WRTI, NYU News, Cool Jazz Radio, Shoutout LA, Voyage LA, and various podcasts. Hughart is a Presser Scholar, 2023 JEN Mary Jo Papich Women in Jazz Scholarship winner, 2020 Bruce Montgomery Foundation Springboard Grant Winner, and 2020 Pennsylvania Project Stream Grant winner.​
Founder & Artistic Director
Amy Hughart
Managing Director
Amy Hughart is the managing director of Key of She Jazz, moving things forward as Olivia manages her full-time student schedule. Amy has been an independent communications consultant since 2001, working with corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses on a variety of projects including strategic communications, marketing, employee communications, messaging, branding, corporate writing, and more. She is a long-time supporter of Settlement Music School where she has served as president of the Wynnefield Branch Board and vice president on the Central Board. She was also chair of the parent committee for Lower Merion Jazz Band, organizing jazz festivals for the past six years. She has a bachelor's degree from University of Rochester and an MLA from University of Pennsylvania and is an amateur pianist in her spare time.
Jenny Neff
Dr. Jenny Neff is Olivia's primary advisor for Key of She Jazz. She is an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at the University of Delaware. Prior to that, she served as Associate Professor and Chair of Music Ed at University of the Arts in Philadelphia and was also Director of the Master of Music and Summer Music Studies. She previously taught music for 25 years in public schools at various K-12 levels in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, primarily in instrumental music. Dr. Neff taught instrumental music at Bala Cynwyd Middle School in Lower Merion School District. Dr. Neff is the Eastern Division Rep for NAfME's Council for Band and is the State Representative for PA for Women Band Directors International. She is part of the PMEA Teacher Mentor Program and serves as trainer for PMEA's online Model Curriculum Framework Tool. She conducted Concert Band at New England Music Camp for four summers and has been a guest conductor and clinician in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Previously, she toured Europe for five summers with high school musicians as Symphonic Band Director and String Ensemble Director for American Music Abroad.
Dr. Neff received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Immaculata University. She has her bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Education from Michigan State University, where she studied French horn.
Leading Advisor
Rocky the Dog
Guardian-in-Chief
Rocky The Dog, Key of She's guardian-in-chief, has crossed the rainbow bridge, but he's always with us in spirit! He loved his stuffed alligator, going outside, and getting treats as a reward from his hard work with Key of She. Rocky was a rescue and was found as a stray on the streets of New York City. He had his degree in leash walking from the Doggie University.
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Contact
Get in touch with our team!
We'd love to hear from you and find ways to connect or collaborate