Creating Space for Sound: How One Musician Rebuilt a City’s Scene From the Ground Up
In Springfield, MA, musician Jeremy Turgeon used jam sessions, education, and community-building to create a blueprint for a stronger, more inclusive local music scene.
by Kendra Hall
SPRINGFIELD, MA — In a city often overshadowed by headlines about violence or decline, musician Jeremy Turgeon saw something different: potential. Standing in a local art gallery with a horn in hand and a crowd gathered around, he wasn’t just performing — he was building something.
“It started as a house jam,” he said. “Now it’s a community movement.”
Rewriting the City’s Musical Blueprint
Springfield, Massachusetts, isn’t widely known for its music scene. But Jeremy Turgeon believed that could change — especially for students who, like him, once saw music as a lifeline.
“Each school I left was losing music programs,” he recalled. “It felt like the city was cutting off its own creativity.”
After graduating from the Springfield High School of Science and Technology and later Berklee College of Music, Turgeon returned home to perform — and to build something bigger.
The Community Jam That Changed Everything
Frustrated by limited venues and a lack of space for younger artists, Turgeon launched a residency at a local gallery. Eventually, he began inviting musicians of all ages to jam together in his own home. The goal: organic, genre-free music-making.
The sessions outgrew his living room and were soon rebranded as The Springfield Community Jam in partnership with local access TV. High school students and seasoned pros shared the stage — sometimes unknowingly.
“A student might be playing with someone who toured with Patti LaBelle and not even know it,” Turgeon said.
His work earned a city proclamation and helped inspire new spaces for musicians to thrive.
Why It Mattered Then — and Still Does Now
According to a 2022 report from the National Endowment for the Arts, access to music and arts programming significantly improves academic engagement and mental health outcomes in underserved communities. Yet budget cuts to music education continue nationwide — especially in public schools.
Turgeon’s model emphasized access and connection, not just performance. “It wasn’t about just putting on a show,” he said. “It was about reminding people that music is a tool for unity.”
A New Chapter in Charlotte
Turgeon has since relocated to Charlotte, NC, where he’s rebuilding again — this time for himself. After a break from live shows to focus on session work and his exotic reptile business, he’s returning to the stage with new music and new energy.
“I realized I missed that sense of community. Being on stage is where I reconnect.”
His new single, “Can’t Get You Out of My Mind” featuring saxophonist Spunk Adams, dropped March 28. He’s also booked to perform at the Charlotte Shout Jazz Festival on April 19, and is currently forming a new band while laying the groundwork for music-based community building in Charlotte — just like he did in Springfield.
His Voice
“I want people to know that you don’t have to wait for someone else to create the space,” Turgeon said. “If you care about community, build the thing you needed when you were coming up. That’s what I did — and it changed everything.”
Sources:
• National Endowment for the Arts, 2022 Arts & Education Impact Report
• Interview with Jeremy Turgeon, March–April 2024
• www.jeremyturgeon.com
About the Creator
Kendra Hall
Journalist and youth mentor. Founder of Jewelz Foundation Inc. Writing hard news and community stories that spotlight truth, healing, and the voices that deserve to be heard.
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