Jason Chuong
BM ’08 (Percussion), MAT ’09 (Music Education)
Jay is a full-time Class Instrumental (itinerant) Music Teacher for the School District of Philadelphia. He provides small group instrumental music lessons in multiple schools throughout the week and has taught in over 18 different Philadelphia public schools in the past three years. He teaches grades 3-12 in some of the most challenging neighborhoods in Philadelphia with a $100 budget. He is actively involved with advocating for quality Arts Education programs in the Philadelphia public schools. His ingenuity and advocacy efforts have been recognized by President Barack Obama, Arne Duncan and the U.S. Department of Education, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association for Music Education, and the School District of Philadelphia.
Jay also performs professionally as a jazz drummer in the Philadelphia area. He has performed in many theaters, clubs, festivals, and he frequently performs with the three-time Grammy nominated Brazilian-Jazz band Minas. Jay is a member of the Pennsylvania Music Education Association (PMEA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He holds a Pennsylvania Instructional II Teaching Certificate in Music K-12. He is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with an MAT in Music Education degree and a BM in Jazz Drum Set Performance degree.
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education created a short film pertaining to Jason Chuong’s work.