Calgary jazz orchestra

Join the calgary jazz orchestra offers jazz music education programs for new and emerging musicians of all ages

ACADEMY

meet you where you are, help you move forward, have fun on the way. 

Calgary Jazz Academy is the Calgary Jazz Orchestra's education branch. Its aim is to promote jazz culture, music, and education to inspire passion and appreciation for jazz music's complexity, beauty, and significance among people of all ages.

The program explicitly seeks to keep jazz music exciting and relevant here in Calgary and beyond. We provide experiences beyond traditional clinic/workshop models by fostering relationships founded on an appreciation for the jazz art form.

The Academy program aims to expose beginner, intermediate, and advanced student musicians to essential topics in jazz performance. The Calgary Jazz Orchestra's Artistic Director, Johnny Summers, and senior members from the CJO guide program members with engaging and supportive instruction and mentorship.

apply today for fall 2024 calgary jazz academy big band and combos.

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CJO

ACADEMY program

2024 ACADEMY application

calgary jazz academy big band
instructor: Johnny Summers

DATE: Tuesday/Sept 24, 2024-Dec 3, 2024
TIME: 7:00pm-9:00pm
location: nw corner of calgary
CHAIRS: 5 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, guitar, piano, bass, drums
Cost: $300.00

calgary jazz academy red combo
instructor: Jim Johnston

DATE: wednesday/Sept 25, 2024-Dec 4, 2024
TIME: 7:00pm-9:00pm
location: Cornerstone music, Se calgary
CHAIRS: 4 horns, guitar, piano, bass, drums
cost: $390.00 ($50.00 discount if also joining the big band)

calgary jazz academy BLUE combo
instructor: shane statz

DATE: saturday/Sept 28, 2024-Dec 7, 2024
TIME: 11:00am-1:00pm
location: anacrusis music, beltline
CHAIRS: 4 horns, guitar, piano, bass, drums
cost: $390.00 ($50.00 discount if also joining the big band)

Joint final concert dec 11, 2024


big band, red combo, blue combo:

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Instrument:

describe your experience:

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thank you for submitting an application for the CALGARY JAZZ ORCHESTRA 2024 elevate ensemble

Our team will review your submission and reach out to notify you of your application status and/or other opportunities shortly.

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ACADEMY program topics

improve skills through jam sessions and call-and-response activities

Jazz improvisation

IMPROVE TONE AND APPROACH TO RHYTHMIC, MELODIC, AND HARMONIC IMPROVISATION

Jazz improvisation

DEVELOP JAZZ SOUND, ARTICULATION,
AND LANGUAGE

SKILL & TECHNIQUE

DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR APPROACHING CHORD CHANGES AND IMPROVE THE USE OF SCALES AND PATTERNS TO BUILD SOLOS

SKILL & TECHNIQUE

DEVELOP ACTIVE LISTENING TO IMPROVE TONE, LANGUAGE, ARTICULATION, AND INFLECTION

Jazz Listening

LEARN TO BECOME A BETTER ENSEMBLE PLAYER BY IMPROVING SIGHT READING, SIGHT SINGING, PLUS DEVELOP SECTION TUNING, BLEND, AND BALANCE

ENSEMBLE SKILLS

HOW AND WHY TO TRANSCRIBE JAZZ MUSIC

JAZZ TRANSCRIPTIONS

LEARN TO OVERCOME PERFORMANCE ANXIETY BY PROJECTING CONFIDENCE THROUGH YOUR INSTRUMENT

Jazz performance

HOW TO ARRANGE COMBO CHARTS

Jazz Arranging

LEARN TO MARKET EVENTS AND DEVELOP THE BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT MAKE OUR CJO MEMBERS SO SUCCESSFUL

Music marketing

join the calgary jazz orchestra for

A great
night out

explore

VIEW PREVIOUS CONCERTS AND EVENTS, PLUS GO DEEPER INTO THE MUSIC WITH curated PLAYLISTS

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join the party

donate to the calgary jazz orchestra society

help us keep the music playing

Giving financially to the Calgary Jazz Orchestra Society (CJO) is a powerful way for individuals to contribute to the vitality of Calgary’s cultural scene. Even modest contributions make a significant impact by enabling the CJO to continue presenting world-class jazz performances, fostering musical education initiatives, and engaging with diverse communities. Donors who contribute $500 or more will be listed on our website.

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learn more about partnership

purchase gold tickets or donate to

get exclusive
vip room access

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book gold tickets

become a donor

list gold ticket locations here.

meet our music/artistic director

Johnny
summers

Johnny Summers, Director and Founder of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra, is a 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.”

new single

my one and only love

Performed by the Calgary Jazz Orchestra, arranged, orchestrated and produced by Johnny Summers, to feature our own Richard Harding on saxophone.

listen on apple music

listen on spotify

holiday single

let's do it again, this christmas

Presenting a special edition original Christmas single with fun, old-school Motown vibes by Johnny Summers with the Calgary Jazz Orchestra.

listen on apple music

listen on spotify

discover

contemporary arrangements of new and classic popular jazz music by the calgary jazz orchestra and johnny summers

listen & watch

CJO special events

let's put on a great show

together

Whether you desire the grandeur of a full orchestra performance or the intimate charm of a smaller ensemble, we offer bespoke musical experiences tailored to your unique event. From captivating your guests with soulful melodies to energizing the atmosphere with infectious rhythms, let us craft the perfect soundtrack for an unforgettable occasion.

Explore our educational performance programs through the Calgary Jazz Academy and embark on a journey of musical enrichment.

Contact us today, and together, let's create a captivating show that transcends expectations and leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Take your event to unparalleled heights with the exquisite sounds of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

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season partners

2024/2025

special thanks to

michael vincent photography

society

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra Society is a charitable organization in Canada, on a mission to create an inclusive and vibrant cultural space in Calgary. We are looking for committed directors, officers, and committee members who will help us grow our concert series, Calgary Jazz Academy, and provide extraordinary experiences for the people of Calgary and beyond.

Your creativity, ideas, partnerships and financial support will enable us to make this a reality. Join us today and be part of this amazing journey!

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