Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Educational Jazz Festival
Increasingly, scholastic jazz ensembles across the region are finding fewer opportunities to perform, learn, and collaborate in festival settings. The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra seeks to fill this void by launching a new, non-competitive jazz festival —a day dedicated to performance, education, and inspiration for students ranging from middle school through high school.
Participating ensembles will each perform a 25–30 minute set and receive personalized feedback from members of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. The day will also include sectionals, workshops, and opportunities to work with students from other schools. This hands-on experience allows students to gain invaluable feedback from seasoned professionals and to deepen their understanding of jazz as both an art form and a shared cultural language.
Through this initiative, the CJO continues to strengthen its role as both a performing and educational institution—bridging professional artistry with meaningful mentorship. Together, we can inspire the next generation of jazz musicians and ensure that this uniquely American art form thrives in our schools and communities.