Ed Bride is Kids 4 Harmony’s 2025 Honoree
Kids 4 Harmony is a free, intensive classical music program for youth from some of the most under-resourced communities in Berkshire County.
The 2025 Kids 4 Harmony Summer Gala Concert was held at the Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood on June 24, 2025. At the event, Berkshires Jazz president and founder Ed Bride was honored for his many years of dedication to Kids 4 Harmony, and for promoting jazz education and performances in the Berkshires.
A message from Kids 4 Harmony:
Ed has been a longtime member of the Kids 4 Harmony Advisory Committee, past chair of the Gala Committee, and passionate supporter of the program. Many people know him as the president and founder of Berkshires Jazz, Inc., whose mission is to present jazz performances and encourage jazz education in Berkshire County. Through his influence, Kids 4 Harmony has been able to collaborate with jazz artists including Ted Rosenthal and Grace Kelly. We’re so grateful to Ed for his years of service to 18 Degrees as a volunteer and donor, ensuring the lasting success of the Kids 4 Harmony program.
Thank you, Ed, for all that you do to bring music to the Berkshires!
A message from Ed:
Music has been an interest of mine (maybe an obsession) my whole life, from my early exposure to classical music as a child to my teenage discovery of jazz and other forms. During my career as a high-tech journalist and marketing consultant I had the opportunity to write about cultural matters for national publications such as All About Jazz and regional magazines like The Artful Mind. Advocating for music education has gone hand in hand with my appreciation of this art form, which has a unique ability to improve our quality of life in many ways.
It has been well-documented that the study of music enhances a student’s learning abilities in all subjects, especially STEM subjects that are vital to our country’s future and innovation. I marvel at the fact that some of the best collegiate jazz programs in the northeast are based at such prestigious institutions as Harvard, M.I.T., and Yale. Early exposure and musical learning are the keys to success, and that’s why Kids 4 Harmony is so important.
Attending a Kids 4 Harmony concert is thrilling for me — seeing the pride in the smiles of family members and the joy on the faces of the musicians — it’s the best feeling you can have. Bringing new students and new audiences to music through Kids 4 Harmony has been personally rewarding beyond measure. It’s humbling to be recognized for participating in something that is so meaningful to me — thank you!
Kids 4 Harmony is inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema, an ensemble-based music program for social justice change. Kids 4 Harmony focuses on musical excellence, student well-being and development, and family support, building the skills, access, and support for participants to succeed in music and beyond. Kids 4 Harmony is the only El Sistema-inspired program embedded within a social services agency (18 Degrees).
Ed Bride, Berkshires Jazz President & Founder