Episode 165 with Iris Ornig, Director & Founder of East End Jazz, and Olivia Foschi, the organization’s Director of Education

Today I’m joined by two wonderful musicians, Iris Ornig, Director & Founder of East End Jazz, and Olivia Foschi, the organization’s Director of Education. Both bring deep experience as performers, composers, and educators, and together they’ve built a vibrant space for jazz on the East End of Long Island. In our conversation, we talk about their early musical journeys, the inspirations that drew them from New York City to the East End, and the lasting influences that continue to shape their work. We also explore the founding of East End Jazz, how they balance performance with education and outreach, and what the response has been like from the East End community. Along the way, Iris and Olivia share stories, their visions for jazz in rural spaces, and their hopes for the future of the East End.