Founded in 2001, the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra is a non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the uniquely American genre of symphonic jazz through its commissioning program, and inspiring the next generations of listeners through its "Music in the Schools" program, and Community Outreach Program. Through these programs, the SJO has presented specially designed free family and educational concerts, master classes, assemblies, workshops, and in-school residencies to over 25,000 students and their families througout Los Angeles County.

OUR MISSION

• COMMISSION symphonic jazz compositions, a musical genre that blends the American language of jazz with European orchestral traditions
• PERFORM commissioned works in concerts throughout Southern California
• RECORD its commissioned works for an international audience
• INSPIRE the next generation of listeners through its Community Outreach Program and specially designed free Family and Educational Concerts

Our 67-member orchestra has commissioned eleven new works and performed six world premieres along with three U.S. premieres. The orchestra has performed in concerts throughout Southern California and is comprised of the finest studio, concert and jazz musicians in the region.

Thank you for visiting the SJO website and taking the time to discover all we do for the students, community and symphonic jazz fans.

George Duke    Mitch Glickman

MUSIC DIRECTORS

(click on the names above to read more about our music directors)

MUSIC ADVISORY BOARD - SJO's diverse group of music masters who are dedicated to bringing music education to students in schools where music programs have been cut from the curriculum.

Billy Childs	Peter Erskine	Tom Scott
John Clayton	Eddie Karam	Horace Silver
Joseph Conlan	Bob Mintzer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Frank Toby Chi	Mitch Glickman	Dr. Peter Pelikan
George Duke	Jinko Gotoh	Cindy Ruth
Suzan Eadens	Mimi Orman	Steve Ruth
Kerri Glickman	Neal Patton	Tim Samut

Susan Gordon
Director of Development

CURRENT PROJECTS

For 2010/11, over 1,300 students are receiving sequential, comprehensive music education taught by members of the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra. The program, funded by a seed grant from the California Arts Council, provides for weekly music classes for five public schools in the Culver City Unified School District.

SJO projects in 2011 include a pilot kindergarten program, 1st and 2nd grade residency, and 3rd grade instrumental workshops.

The orchestra’s 2nd grade residency program, largely built on the National Endowment for the Arts "Jazz in the Schools" curriculum, introduces students to both classical and jazz history, music theory, solfege, famous composers, and the families of the orchestra. Throughout the 28-week program, the students also compose blues songs that are performed by members of the orchestra at a special final assembly.

The orchestra’s 1st grade residency program introduces students to music theory, singing, and solfege, as they learn to master the playing of bells. Throughout the 28-week program, the students perform simple Americana songs as well as pieces by Beethoven and Mozart.

The orchestra’s 3rd grade instrumental workshops include mini-concerts by three ensembles from within the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra - a string quartet, brass quintet and woodwind quintet. Following each of the presentations, all of the students then get to play the instruments they just heard - including flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin and cello. This launches them into the school's band and orchestra program in 4th grade. Thanks to Rico Reeds for their support of this program.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since its debut in 2002, the 72-member Symphonic Jazz Orchestra has commissioned ten new works, and performed six world premieres along with three U.S. premieres. The orchestra has performed in concerts throughout Southern California including Royce Hall (UCLA), Ford Amphitheatre, Schoenberg Hall, San Gabriell Mission Playhouse and the Walt Disney Theatre at CalArts. Special guests joining the orchestra have included Justo Almario, Pete Christlieb, John Clayton, Carlos Cuevas, Bill Cunliffe, Tommy Davidson, Peter Erskine, Robert Hurst, Phil Perry, Tom Scott, Lesa Terry and The Yellowjackets.

The orchestra also has an active Community Outreach Program which has presented free family and educational concerts, master classes, assemblies, workshops, and in-school residenceies to over 25,000 students and their families throughout underserved areas of Los Angeles County.

HISTORY

Beginning in the 1920s and into the '30s, bandleader Paul Whiteman presented a series of concerts called "Experiments in Modern Music," which included the commissioning of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." In the 1940s and '50s, arranger Gil Evans expanded the jazz palette by incorporating orchestral instruments and composer Gunther Schuller developed "Third Stream" music, which furthered the mixing of jazz and classical music on a larger scale. The 1960s and '70s included such bandleaders as Don Ellis and Stan Kenton giving opportunities to composers to continue to develop the jazz/classical sound. The 1980s and '90s saw Jack Elliott and the American Jazz Philharmonic commission and perform over 100 new symphonic jazz works in concerts across the country.

Following this rich tradition of blending jazz and classical influences, the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra is the next torchbearer. The ensemble is uniquely equipped to carry on this special genre of American music well into the new century.