After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Ninth Ward in 2005, New Orleans natives Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. sought to protect the city's musical heritage. Partnering with New Orleans Habitat for Humanity, they created Musicians' Village-an affordable housing community for artists. In 2012, its centerpiece, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, opened, offering a 17,000-square-foot facility with a performance hall, recording studio, technology center, library, dance studio, and world-class teaching spaces.

Today, the Center continues to evolve, providing youth with comprehensive music education in piano, vocals, strings, percussion, and wind instruments. We also support adult musicians through professional development, performance opportunities, and access to state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring New Orleans' musical legacy thrives for generations to come.