Collaborations

SFJazz Announcement graphic

NYTimes Met Opera

Tiana's Bayou Adventure Walt Disney World

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

SFJAZZ

SEE ME AS I AM - LINCOLN CENTER

CHAMPION AT THE MET OPERA

FIRE SUT UP IN MY BONES AT THE MET OPERA

Artistic innovation defines Terence Blanchard's illustrious career, marked by groundbreaking collaborations with premier arts organizations and performance venues worldwide. From composing operas for the Metropolitan Opera to collaborating with the world’s top performing arts venues, Blanchard bridges genres and mediums, cementing his legacy as a transformative force in contemporary art. His partnerships reflect a deep commitment to storytelling and the elevation of diverse voices on the global stage.

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Terence Blanchard composed the queue line music for the new Magic Kingdom ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and produced the accompanying soundtrack.

Based on Walt Disney's Animation Studios’ film, “The Princess and the Frog., ”Tiana's Bayou Adventure" takes guests on a musical journey to prepare a great party for Mardi Gras. The queue line music and soundtrack feature classic New Orleans songs arranged by Terence Blanchard and includes the song "Special Spice," written and produced by PJ Morton and performed by Anika Noni Rose. The soundtrack is available on all streaming platforms

"New Orleans music has a very infectious nature to it, I don't care what you are going through, you can hear some music from New Orleans and all of a sudden you start tapping your toes, you start wiggling, you start dancing and start grooving to the whole thing." Terence Blanchard

SFJAZZ

Terence Blanchard appointed Executive Artistic Director for SFJAZZ for the 2023-2024 season.

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As Executive Artistic Director, Blanchard serves as the artistic leader of SFJAZZ and helps to formulate and implement artistic programming across diverse disciplines and genres. He works closely with the SFJAZZ team to curate year-round concert programming, expand the SFJAZZ ‘At Home’ digital platform, and further develop community engagement and educational offerings. Marking his official inaugural season as Executive Artistic Director, Terence Blanchard is presenting The UpSwing, a curated series which highlights a dynamic group of cutting-edge artists who are guiding lights in a bold, new movement of jazz.

“I am honored and excited to become a part of such an amazing and historic institution. SFJAZZ has meant so much to the development of America’s Greatest artform. I am looking forward to collaborating with the staff while also bringing my own ideas about how to move our music forward and continue the SFJAZZ mission to explore the full spectrum of jazz—from its origins to its diverse and evolving expressions around the world today. I cannot wait to continue this journey.” Terence Blanchard

SEE ME AS I AM

Terence Blanchard’s year-long collaboration with Lincoln Center

Terence Blanchard claims a singular place among the great artists honored at Lincoln Center. His bold artistry combined with his distinguished work as an educator and arts statesman are unparalleled in their breadth and impact in American culture. Held over 12 months that begin in March 2023, See Me As I Am: Lincoln Center’s Year-Long Celebration honored Blanchard's with collaborations across multiple art forms ranging from jazz, opera, chamber music, orchestral music, film scores and more—across the seven arts organizations including: Film at Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

"Lincoln Center Kicks Off Year-Long Celebration Of Multi-Talented Musician Terence Blanchard"
Forbes Magazine, March 1, 2023

FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES

Composed by Terence Blanchard, Fire Shut Up In My Bones opened the 2021-2022 season of The Metropolitan Opera.

Based on the memoir by journalist Charles M. Blow, "Fire Shut Up In My Bones", explores themes of trauma and resilience through the life of a young man named Charles. "Fire Shut Up in My Bones", marked the first time a work by an African-American composer was staged on the Met stage.

“In his score, Blanchard deftly blends elements of jazz, blues, hints of big band and gospel into a compositional voice dominated by lushly chromatic and modal harmonic writing, spiked with jagged rhythms and tart dissonance.” New York Times

CHAMPION

Composed by Terence Blanchard "Champion" premiered at The Metropolitan Opera during the 2023-2024 season.

"Champion" depicts the conflicts and crises in the life of boxer Emile Griffith. He saw the truly operatic dimensions in the confluence of love, violence, death, and forgiveness, and in bringing them to the stage, he wove together both contemporary and classical musical idioms to create a wholly new sound world, one that he characterizes as “opera in jazz.”

“Champion packs an emotional and visual punch.” OperaWire

DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – PARADISE JAZZ SERIES

Terence Blanchard has curated the 2024–2025 DSO Paradise Jazz Series with a collection of one-night-only shows.

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The 2024-2025 season features Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, Cyrus Chestnut and friends, musicians from the SFJAZZ Collective, Ron Carter Quartet, and Cécile McLorin Salvant. In 2012 Terence Blanchard was appointed the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Chair of the DSO where he has led the jazz programming. His appointment was recently extended through the 2025–2026 season.

“We are thrilled to share the 2024–2025 season of the Paradise Jazz Series, which honors Orchestra Hall’s history as the Paradise Theatre,” Detroit is one of the great jazz cities, and our audiences always know good music. We have an amazing lineup this season that preserves jazz’s rich legacy while celebrating its future with some of today’s best artists—don’t miss it!” Terence Blanchard