Yunie Mojica Takes the Stage to Commemorate 55 Years of Jackie McLean

By Emma Gutfleisch

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Performance by Yunie Mojica (also known as YunieMo).

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Hartford, December 16, 2025

The Artist Collective celebrated its 55th anniversary honoring the late Jackie McLean’s legacy, which he co-founded with his wife, Dollie McLean and other artists. The Collective’s alumna, Yunie Mojica (also known as YunieMo) performed on this occasion to pay her tributes to the legend and commemorate Hartford’s one of its kind arts and cultural organization dedicated to supporting artists from the African American diaspora.    

Talking about the profound impact the Collective has had on her life, Mojica shared, “It was very special. It taught me a lot, because even from elementary school to high school, that foundation wasn't there. It wasn't being taught, so to have that, had an immense impact on the way I understand music.”

A Brooklyn-based Grammy-nominated musician, saxophonist, composer, and event planner originally from Hartford, Mojica works with various styles such as jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic. She graduated from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in May 2009.

Mojica’s music is deeply influenced by her Afro-Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage. It is this double inheritance that allows her to identify with the Caribbean diaspora in Hartford from two distinct windows simultaneously. She attests to the fact that the Collective played a big role in creating this space for diversity and inclusion initiatives and inviting artists from different backgrounds to be a part of Hartford’s Art scene. 

She believes what makes the institute special is its teachers and professors. They embedded in her the cultural significance and evolutionary nature of this music through their pedagogical skills. She reminisces about the time when her teachers talked about the origins of Jazz. The foundations of this genre can be traced back to the rhythms and musical elements brought along with the African Americans who were captured and enslaved. “They really taught us who the true creators of this music were,” said Mojica.

For long, the Collective has created a safe, welcoming, and creative environment for budding artists of all backgrounds. Serving a predominantly lower-income neighborhood, and introducing performing and visual arts to young children, the Collective has touched the lives of many budding artists and their families. 

 As the only interdisciplinary arts center in the Hartford area, the emphasis is on highlighting the voices of the African diaspora will continue to impact students and families as time goes on. There are concerts to be held, art to be produced, and countless students to teach in the near future. Exposing the community to the past, present, and including them in what’s to come.

Lori Reynolds, event coordinator at the Collective hopes to launch a successful fundraising campaign soon to establish a permanent endowment for the institute.

Reynolds said, “This endowment will serve as a foundation for long-term sustainability, empowering us to recruit and retain the next generation of gifted artists and educators who will continue to inspire and teach our students with excellence and passion.”

 At the anniversary celebration, Mojica and collaborator DJ 000Child also announced the release of their newest collective album called Hey Love… Collective: Volume 1., which is a creative fusion of hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and jazz. 

“We blend them together, and use different modes of sampling, and live musicianship.” She describes “The DJ is incorporated as almost a percussion instrument, using samples of the moment.”

The highly anticipated album bridges contemporary black music with some more traditional sounds. With a strong lineup of musicians, the release event brought together students, alumni, and local musicians. A notably full-circle moment for Mojica as she brings light upon what The Collective stands for.