A letter from CJO Executive Director, Scott Garlock

Onward (adverb) – toward a point ahead or in front; forward, as in space or time.

Welcome to Season 41 of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra!

Our Artistic Director, Paul Ferguson, often ends planning conversations with a single word: Onward. It’s a fitting motto for both his vision and the CJO’s mission. Whether on stage or in the classroom, the CJO leads with creativity, excellence, and a deep commitment to positively impacting the lives of Northeast Ohioans—ages 9 to 90 and beyond.

Music You Can’t Hear Anywhere Else

A defining feature of the CJO is the music we perform. When we’re not showcasing works by jazz legends like Sammy Nestico, Maria Schneider, and Bill Holman, our own gifted writers—led by the prolific Paul Ferguson—create original compositions and arrangements you simply can’t hear anywhere else.

Our Season Series Concerts are the CJO’s most visible work, featuring the region’s finest jazz musicians alongside some of the most important figures in jazz. Over the years, we’ve shared the stage with Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, Regina Carter, Bria Skonberg, and countless others (full list here).

Bringing Jazz to the Community

Through CJO in the City, our music resonates in schools, clubs, theaters, parks, and places of worship. From nonprofit galas to community festivals and corporate gatherings, CJO ensembles of all sizes bring live jazz to diverse audiences (book a performance).

A Landmark in Jazz Education

Most importantly, the CJO is the only non-school entity in the U.S. teaching jazz to middle school students. Our landmark residency in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District features multiple weekly visits by multiple CJO instructors. At some schools, we help students take their very first musical steps; at others, 6th graders are already composing and improvising their own works.

We also:

Distribute nearly 1,000 free student tickets to our Season Series each year
Hold rehearsals in schools for student access and inspiration
Have donated nearly 100 instruments through our Instrument Donation Program

All of this—our educational outreach, our cultural contributions, our unforgettable performances—is possible only because of your support and attendance. As we launch into our fifth decade, we thank you for joining us on this journey and helping us move ever Onward.