As if that was not enough, Guillhaumon installed a jazz museum in a 15th-century Augustine cloister and set up an innovative jazz program that allows public school students the option of taking up to five hours of special music instruction per week. The teaching scheme was an instant hit, attracting students from across the country and helping to nearly double the student body. For Wynton, a natural-born teacher, the school program was one more reason to love Marciac. And for Marciac to love him. You communicate a lot more than what you tell the students.
Teaching is a very spiritual thing.
Unveiled at the beginning of the festival that year, the work now occupies a place of honor in front of the ancient cloister. Wynton reciprocated that tribute by composing Marciac Suite. Then they commissioned the statue and that prompted me to get it together. I wanted to write a piece that expressed all my feelings about the festival, the town and the people there. Wynton, of course, never does anything the easy way.