CJO—A Teaching Band!
Core members of the CJO include the heads of Jazz Studies at the University of Akron, Case Western Reserve University, Ashland University, Youngstown State University and Kent State University. Other band members are full-time musicians and instructors who work their own small jazz groups and are regular players in major theatrical showrooms in the area.
Our interactive, hands-on approach to education outreach capitalizes on the combined 200+ years of experience and expertise offered by the 16 professional musicians in the band, many of whom are jazz educators at the high school and college level.
Core Members include:
Jack Schantz -
director of jazz studies at the University of Akron
Paul Ferguson - director of jazz studies at Case Western Reserve University
Kent Englehardt - director of jazz studies at Youngstown State University
David Morgan - assistant director of jazz studies at Youngstown State University
Chas Baker - director of jazz studies as Kent State University
Scott Garlock - associate professor of music, Ashland University
Rich Shanklin - associate professor of music, University of Akron 
