Since 2001, HAPCO's educational programs have helped disadvantaged young people in Florida, Georgia and Texas use their musical, culinary and artistic talents to fund their college education or pursue professional careers.

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MUSIC

Students improve their talents with instruction and mentorship from professional musicians and educators. Programs include clinics, camps, master classes, private lessons and live performances.
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CULINARY ARTS

Programs for all ages, providing free nutrition education and cooking classes through in-person classes and YouTube Live demonstrations. We also provide free training and mentoring to disadvantaged young people who are pursuing culinary arts careers.
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LIVE

Young musicians gain public performance experience, through paid gigs at community businesses and events. Performances are in-person and online.
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art programs

ARTS

Students gain insights into developing their artistic talents from professional working artists including first and second generation Florida Highwaymen painters.

2025 HAPCO Jazz Clinic

Programs are conducted in locations central to disadvantaged neighborhoods, connecting young people with industry professionals and giving them inroads into community networks. They encourage artistic expression, technique, business best practices and practical application. Our events are tailored to unite the communities we serve through the universal languages of music, food and art.

S. Cunningham

With your help, young people in our communities can pursue a career as a musician, chef or artist. Or they may use their talent to get a scholarship so they can go to college. Either way, they have the desire to improve their lives, and be successful.

Your monthly gift of $20 will help propel our programs to reach more students in Florida, Georgia and Texas.

Please join us in supporting these disadvantaged young people – for less than 67¢ a day.

Together, we help our students build their futures.

DONATE NOW | HAPCO Impact

#TBT
One of our favorite pictures from our 20 years of connecting young people with music, arts and culinary arts educational opportunities.

The night HAPCO LIVE was birthed with a performance at The University Club in Orlando, 2014. The players: Kyle Broesch, Andrew Kennedy, Mac Borgella, Michenell Louis Charles and Charles Daniel.

HAPCOLive first gig in 2014

UPCOMING EVENTS

31 January
HAPCO Jazz Fest Ocoee 2025
06:00 PM - 10:00 PM Ocoee Lakeshore Center - 125 N Lakeshore Dr. - Ocoee, FL
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1 February
HAPCO Winter Jazz Clinic
09:30 AM - 03:30 PM Ocoee High School - 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Pky - Ocoee, FL 34761
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26 April
International Jazz Day
05:00 PM - 07:00 PM Apopka Amphitheater - 3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway - Apopka, FL
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Jai Price

HAPCO programs are offered typically free of charge and are designed to empower growth and development in creative fields.

scholarships and lessons

Through our Kenneth R. Tolbert Scholarship Fund, we award scholarships to disadvantaged young people, helping them graduate college and improve their lives.
DETAILS

YOUNG PEOPLE & SENIORS SPECIALTY PROGRAMS

HAPCO develops custom-tailored arts, music and culinary arts education for individual school programs and community centers. Programs include clinics, master class series and full programming that emphasize personal skill development, teamwork, historical perspective and social interactions.

Contact us to create your program.

Contact us for details on becoming a HAPCO Educator.

customized programs
Jeff Rupert

MENTORS. ROLE MODELS. TEACHERS.

HAPCO emphasizes paying it forward – we give students real-world experience and mentoring from university-level educators and industry professionals who they can relate to and learn from.

MEET OUR TEAM

Community Partners

HAPCO Community Partners

HAPCO is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, home of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com.

Community Support

MAKING A DIFFERENCE, TOGETHER

Community support makes our programs possible. We align ourselves with partners who contribute to our communities by investing in the improved futures of our local young people.

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IMPACTS

$50,000+ PAID STUDENT LIVE PERFORMANCES

SINCE 2001, 30,000+ YOUNG PEOPLE EDUCATED AND INSPIRED

$2 MILLION MUSIC AND ARTS INITIATIVES

HAPCO LIVE

HAPCO LIVE

We promote local talent through HAPCO LIVE, connecting program alumni and partners with community venues and civic events for public performance. Our musicians are available in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia. This partnership gives our youth musicians valuable performance experience alongside great community connections.

Many of our entertainers are alumni of HAPCO programs, and continue to perform together in various ensembles. Let us know what style of music you would like, particular instruments (sax, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drums, etc.) and/or number of performers, and we will coordinate an ensemble perfect for your event!

Booking fees include musician performance and travel.

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Community Views

"At all of our clinics throughout the year, I am always impressed by how much these kids really want to learn and become better musicians. They feel great when someone shows they care. HAPCO prides itself on giving students the best experience and access to the best in the industry."
- Joseph McMullen, HAPCO Chairman