A Night of Belonging, Talent and Purpose: Jazz Hands For Autism Celebrates 25 Concerts of Changing Lives

There was no shortage of star power inside Playa Studios in Culver City to celebrate Jazz Hands For Autism.

Earth, Wind & Fire legend Philip Bailey was in attendance. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Janet Grillo was being honored. Comedian Ron Funches kept the audience laughing. Music industry executives, Recording Academy representatives and city leaders filled the room.

Honoree Philip Bailey during a fireside chat

Yet the true stars of the evening were the autistic musicians who took the stage.

The milestone 25th Jazz Hands For Autism Concert was more than a celebration of music. It was a testament to what can happen when talent is nurtured, opportunities are created and people are given a space where they truly belong.

Founded by Dr. Ifunanya Nweke, Jazz Hands For Autism has spent more than a decade creating opportunities for autistic musicians to develop their craft, build confidence and pursue professional careers in music. What began as a vision to address the lack of meaningful opportunities available to neurodivergent artists has grown into a globally recognized organization reaching musicians across six continents.

Jazz Hands For Autism founder and executive director Dr. Ifunanya Nweke presents the inaugural “City in Harmony” Award to the City of Culver City at the 25th Jazz Hands Concert.

“The purpose of this concert is simple: to provide a platform where youth and adults on the autism spectrum can express themselves, explore their talent and share it with their families, their community and the world,” said Dr. Nweke. “Our goal is for their talent to become a bridge to belonging, community and employment.”

That mission was evident throughout the evening.

The concert’s theme, Reach Higher: The Legacy of Philip Bailey, honored the nine-time GRAMMY Award winner not only for his legendary career, but also for his support of Jazz Hands For Autism over the years.

One of the night’s most touching moments came when Christian Culmer-Evans and the Academy’s Saturday Band performed music made famous by Bailey and Earth, Wind & Fire. For Christian, the performance carried special significance.

In 2020, Bailey visited the Jazz Hands Music Academy to lead a masterclass for students. Christian was among those in attendance.

Five years later, he found himself performing for the music icon who had once inspired him from the classroom.

“I’m glad that we got to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform for such a legend,” Christian said.

As the musicians played, Bailey was among the first to rise to his feet in applause.

The standing ovation was one of several he would give throughout the evening.

When Bailey later accepted the organization’s Spring 2026 WayMaker Award, he spoke about the importance of creating pathways for talented individuals who are too often overlooked.

“Talent doesn’t think one way, and neither should opportunity,” Bailey said. “That’s what Jazz Hands For Autism is about: real stages, real opportunities for neurodivergent musicians who deserve to be heard.”

Earlier in the evening, Bailey participated in a fireside conversation with GRAMMY Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated songwriter Siedah Garrett, whose credits include co-writing Michael Jackson’s iconic hit “Man in the Mirror.”

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Trailblazer Award to Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Janet Grillo, whose work has helped bring authentic autism stories to audiences around the world.

GRAMMY-winning, two-time Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett 

Speaking directly to Dr. Nweke, Grillo reflected on what makes the organization so impactful.

“The films I’ve made are about family and love, and that is the magic ingredient that makes Jazz Hands such a special place,” she said. “The whole organization exists because of your big heart.”

The praise was fitting for a leader whose vision has transformed countless lives through music.

Today, Jazz Hands For Autism stands as the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to combining professional music education, vocational training and paid employment pathways specifically for autistic musicians. Through the Jazz Hands Music Academy, students receive more than 600 hours of individualized training each year.

The results speak for themselves.

Musicians affiliated with the organization have performed more than 300 gigs, many of them paid opportunities, earning more than $52,000 through their artistry. The organization has also created the music industry’s first sync licensing library composed entirely of music produced by neurodivergent artists.

In 2026, Jazz Hands For Autism expanded its reach even further with the launch of the Jazz Hands Educator Training (JHET) program, equipping teachers with neurodiversity-affirming educational practices. The initiative has already trained more than 100 educators, collectively impacting more than 1,400 students.

Throughout the evening, the message was clear: talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not always follow.

Jazz Hands For Autism is helping change that.

The event also honored the City of Culver City with the organization’s inaugural City in Harmony Award. Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza accepted the recognition on behalf of the city and emphasized the importance of fostering inclusion.

“You measure the success of a city not by how many corporations we have, but by the sense of belonging,” Puza said.Belonging was perhaps the most powerful theme of the evening.

As the final notes of Earth, Wind & Fire classics filled the room and the audience rose for another standing ovation, it became evident that the organization’s impact extends far beyond music lessons and performances.

Under Dr. Ifunanya Nweke’s leadership, Jazz Hands For Autism has built something far greater than a concert series or academy.It has created a community where autistic musicians are not only welcomed but celebrated, empowered and given the opportunity to thrive. And after 25 concerts, that mission continues to reach higher.

To learn more about Jazz Hands For Autism, support its mission, or explore its programs for neurodivergent musicians, visit https://www.jazzhandsforautism.org.

Photo Credit: Jazz Hands For Autism.