Calgary jazz orchestra

Join the calgary jazz orchestra for a great date night in Calgary. Perfect for couples and parties seeking luxury evening experiences

ABOUT

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our story

our musicians

our music

Our society

CJO

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.

meet our musicians

introducing our celebrated musicians. These world-class artists make the calgary jazz orchestra the fun-loving, high quality and exceptional group you will experience at our concerts and events.

music/artistic director

Johnny
summers

Johnny Summers, Director and Founder of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra, is a professionally trained vocalist, trumpeter, arranger, composer, director, and educator.

“One of our greatest joys as performers is to dream and create these shows for you. To present a huge range of what music has to offer and our passion for it. All of us together, in a beautiful room, bathed in light and the soul of sound, enjoying laughter, art, and community in a shared experience.”

core
orchestra

saxophones

Gerry Hebert
Richard Harding
Sean Craig
Shane Statz
Sarah Matheson-Nadeau

Trombones

Tim Embree
Dylan Martin
Greg Robertson

Trumpets

Jay Michalak
Johnny Summers
Jon Day
jon mossing

rhythm

Guitar - Neil McVey
Piano - chris tauchner
Bass - Kodi Hutchinson
Drums - Jim Johnston

vocals

Johnny summers

our music

Our concert series offers two themes each night, catering to anyone looking for a great night out. From blues and soul to Disney and holiday, we bring iconic tunes to life. The music of our heroes like Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, John Coltrane, Tommy Banks, and Frank Sinatra is always exciting to perform.   

While some music is purchased from the estates of these legends, Johnny Summers composed or arranged most of the magic you hear. Uniquely crafted for our musician's strengths and our audience's enjoyment, we always offer a tailored night of music.   

All arrangements by the CJO are available for purchase for your professional orchestra or can be re-arranged for your community orchestra or high school band. Please get in touch with the CJO for more information. 

society

The CJO Society has evolved into a cultural institution that enriches the city's cultural landscape through its captivating performances, educational initiatives, and contributions to the world of jazz music. The CJO's story exemplifies how a shared passion, dedication, and desire to create something remarkable can lead to the establishment of an enduring musical legacy.

Vision

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra Society popularizes jazz by producing professional and accessible jazz orchestra performances and educational opportunities for a growing and appreciative audience in Calgary and beyond.

mission

To advance the public's appreciation of the arts by providing high-quality musical performances in public places and to advance education by providing musical instruction to musicians of all ability levels.

2026/2027 season

board of directors

Johnny Summers - Artistic Director/Founder
ERIN SUMMERS- President, director
adam Pettigrew - vice president, Director
sara Pettigrew - treasurer, director

Current open positions
Secretary
director at Large

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