NEWPORT, R.I.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM) and Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. today announced a new three-year sponsorship agreement that highlights aspiring young jazz performers. In addition to this year’s line-up of world-class artists, the 2012 Jazz Festival will feature The Rhode Island Music Educators Association (RIMEA) Jazz Band, an all-star, all-state band of high school jazz musicians from Rhode Island who will be the opening performance on Saturday, August 4. This concert season, the agreement includes a $5,000 NGAM scholarship for a selected student musician from the band. “Working with the Newport Jazz Festival, it is our goal to provide additional opportunities for extraordinary young artists to participate in professional venues as they pursue their dreams.”