Filmed at Lincoln Center and Jazz at Lincoln Center, six promising Juilliard School students performed an original jazz composition for the Fendi Renaissance – Anima Mundi series. The musicians are dressed in self-selected attire from the Fendi Women’s and Men’s Fall 2020 collections.

Following performances of classical music masterpieces in Rome, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, Fendi decided on a different approach for the fifth episode of Anima Mundi shot in 2020, choosing to highlight the talents of young jazz musicians, feeling that this was the right medium for the episode given its American tradition and capacity to cultivate community and connection among the artists and the world.

It is fitting that Jazz, New York and Juilliard close out this suite. Jazz symbolizes individual freedom, collective creativity and personal resilience–fundamental attributes needed to effectively navigate an increasingly complex world. New York is the quintessential modern metropolis, a cauldron of cutting-edge connectivity. And Juilliard brings youthful virtue, vigor and virtuosity to the timeless challenges of humanity.

The ensemble of six student musicians from the world-renowned Juilliard Jazz Studies Program in New York had only just begun in-person work on campus in November and following rigorous safety protocols began rehearsing an original score composed by master’s student, Aaron Matson, “Rollerblading in Harlem,” commissioned by Fendi for this series.

The world-renowned Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center served as the backdrop of the performance of the ensemble when they were playing together overlooking spectacular views of Central Park. Solos by the students were filmed in various locations around Lincoln Center and Juilliard’s performing arts venues.