our story
Calgary's art scene was missing a key component: a professional jazz orchestra. The city was filled with world-class talent, but musicians needed a stage to shine. Recognizing this gap, Johnny Summers founded the Calgary Jazz Orchestra (CJO) in 2004.
Since then, this musical family has grown, expanding to include many core orchestra members and creating a tight-knit community. You can feel the camaraderie in their smiles on stage and in their music. They aren't just a jazz orchestra, but a supportive crew forging creative music experiences, learning, and growing together. The CJO is an inclusive collective, consistently welcoming special guests and musicians to showcase their talent and be part of the team, bringing new musical colors and cultural explorations to the stage.
The Calgary Jazz Orchestra Society is a recognized charitable organization focused on performances and music education in Canada.
