JazzWorks!
EDUCATION INITIATIVE
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra believes firmly that familiarity and understanding are the first steps to love and appreciation, and with this in mind, we strive to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about this art form we call jazz through our education initiative, JazzWorks. Our resident musicians are not only outstanding performers, but many of them are also celebrated educators. Each year, we offer a variety of educational materials and events, created and led by these incredible musicians and our guest artists. Check our upcoming events to find out when our next JazzWorks event is taking place.
WHAT WE OFFER
MASTERCLASSES
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's masterclasses give students and lifelong learners the opportunity to observe or perform for jazz icons and local jazz masters. The language of jazz has been passed down from generation to generation, and we continue that tradition through these classes. Participants can learn not just to play, but to be true musicians.
workshops & Clinics
In these flexible- format events, students benefit from the expert perspective of some of Kansas City's finest jazz musician- educators. Jazz education is an integral part of our mission, and we strive to provide engaging and inspiring guidance to the next generation of jazz lovers and practitioners.
LISTENING PARTIES
Listening parties are one-hour sessions of a live performance and discussion of influential albums, musicians, and movements in jazz, curated and presented by our musicians. These free events are designed to foster interest, knowledge, and appreciation for jazz, one of Kansas City's most iconic exports.
VIDEO DIGEST
Delving into topics ranging from Kansas City jazz history to performance mini-classes for aspiring musicians, KCJO's digital education series is equal parts entertaining, informative, and a fun, engaging way for people of all ages to learn about jazz. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date!
JAZZ CAFÉ
Jazz Café brings in a live combo over a school's lunch hour at no cost. This program is designed to help foster the next generation's appreciation of jazz through a fun, immersive, and of course, educational listening experience.
KCJO session
KCJO Session Series is a new, monthly jam series that was implemented in August of 2024. The series takes place at The Black Box Theater in Kansas City's West Bottoms neighborhood. The session are organized by a college student who also performs with three KCJO musicians as the "house band."
MASTERCLASSES
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's masterclasses give students and lifelong learners the opportunity to observe or perform for jazz icons and local jazz masters. The language of jazz has been passed down from generation to generation, and we continue that tradition through these classes. Participants can learn not just to play, but to be true musicians.
LISTENING PARTIES
Listening parties are one-hour sessions of a live performance and discussion of influential albums, musicians, and movements in jazz, curated and presented by our musicians. These free events are designed to foster interest, knowledge, and appreciation for jazz, one of Kansas City's most iconic exports.
JAZZ CAFÉ
Jazz Café brings in a live combo over a school's lunch hour at no cost. This program is designed to help foster the next generation's appreciation of jazz through a fun, immersive, and of course, educational listening experience.
workshops & Clinics
In these flexible- format events, students benefit from the expert perspective of some of Kansas City's finest jazz musician- educators. Jazz education is an integral part of our mission, and we strive to provide engaging and inspiring guidance to the next generation of jazz lovers and practitioners.
VIDEO DIGEST
Delving into topics ranging from Kansas City jazz history to performance mini-classes for aspiring musicians, KCJO's digital education series is equal parts entertaining, informative, and a fun, engaging way for people of all ages to learn about jazz. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date!
KCJO session
KCJO Session Series is a new, monthly jam series that was implemented in August of 2024. The series takes place at The Black Box Theater in Kansas City's West Bottoms neighborhood. The session are organized by a college student who also performs with three KCJO musicians as the "house band."
MASTERCLASSES
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's masterclasses give students and lifelong learners the opportunity to observe or perform for jazz icons and local jazz masters. The language of jazz has been passed down from generation to generation, and we continue that tradition through these classes. Participants can learn not just to play, but to be true musicians.
LISTENING PARTIES
Listening parties are one-hour sessions of a live performance and discussion of influential albums, musicians, and movements in jazz, curated and presented by our musicians. These free events are designed to foster interest, knowledge, and appreciation for jazz, one of Kansas City's most iconic exports.
JAZZ CAFÉ
Jazz Café brings in a live combo over a school's lunch hour at no cost. This program is designed to help foster the next generation's appreciation of jazz through a fun, immersive, and of course, educational listening experience.
workshops & Clinics
In these flexible- format events, students benefit from the expert perspective of some of Kansas City's finest jazz musician- educators. Jazz education is an integral part of our mission, and we strive to provide engaging and inspiring guidance to the next generation of jazz lovers and practitioners.
VIDEO DIGEST
Delving into topics ranging from Kansas City jazz history to performance mini-classes for aspiring musicians, KCJO's digital education series is equal parts entertaining, informative, and a fun, engaging way for people of all ages to learn about jazz. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date!
KCJO session
KCJO Session Series is a new, monthly jam series that was implemented in August of 2024. The series takes place at The Black Box Theater in Kansas City's West Bottoms neighborhood. The session are organized by a college student who also performs with three KCJO musicians as the "house band."
Groove'n Learn
An engaging and interactive way for students to learn about and develop a life-long love for jazz music. KCJO’s 18-piece big band performs a 45-minute suite of fun music to entertain and educate. Through performance and conversation, we present concepts like melody, harmony, rhythm, improvisation, and swing, and demonstrate essential skills like communication, listening, and imagination through great jazz tunes like “Sing Sing Sing,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”
presented by :
presented by :
Contact us at info@kcjo.org or 816-225-4949 to schedule an event for your school or group.
We are proud to partner with many local schools and organizations to offer a diverse array of educational activities and content, including Kansas City Kansas Community College, Johnson County Community College, Operation Breakthrough, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Harmony Project KC, and Big Brothers Big Sisters KC, among others. We would be thrilled to work with your students or to offer an engaging educational experience for your group. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about scheduling an event.
Presented by:
Contact us at info@kcjo.org or 816-225-4949 to schedule an event
for your school or group.
We are proud to partner with many local schools and organizations to offer a diverse array of educational activities and content, including Kansas City Kansas Community College, Johnson County Community College, Operation Breakthrough, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Harmony Project KC, and Big Brothers Big Sisters KC, among others. We would be thrilled to work with your students or to offer an engaging educational experience for your group. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about scheduling an event.
KCJO 2024 Interns
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra internship is sponsored by The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
Brynna Ladesic is a multi-instrumentalist from Tonganoxie, KS. She is currently pursuing a music degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College, and looks forward to continuing to learn about music education and performance. In addition to being an active member of KCKCC ensembles, she is a member of the Jazz Education Network student chapter music club, a music theory peer tutor, a KCJO intern, and a proud Ella Fitzgerald Memorial Scholar. Brynna has experience performing with clarinets, saxophones, and flute, and she loves learning new instruments.
Brynna
Ladesic
Heidi
Eberhardt
Heidi Eberhardt is a jazz vocalist studying at Kansas City Kansas Community College. As a now third year student, Heidi has developed a love for going the outside the box and being unapologetically herself in both vocal performances and her compositions. Her favorite part about working with the KCJO is meeting and connecting with people through jazz and getting inspiration from watching the performances!
Contact us at info@kcjo.org or 816-225-4949 to schedule an event for your school or group.
We are proud to partner with many local schools and organizations to offer a diverse array of educational activities and content, including Kansas City Kansas Community College, Johnson County Community College, Operation Breakthrough, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Harmony Project KC, and Big Brothers Big Sisters KC, among others. We would be thrilled to work with your students or to offer an engaging educational experience for your group. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about scheduling an event.
KCJO 2024 Interns
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra internship is sponsored by The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
Brynna
Ladesic
Brynna Ladesic is a multi-instrumentalist from Tonganoxie, KS. She is currently pursuing a music degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College, and looks forward to continuing to learn about music education and performance. In addition to being an active member of KCKCC ensembles, she is a member of the Jazz Education Network student chapter music club, a music theory peer tutor, a KCJO intern, and a proud Ella Fitzgerald Memorial Scholar. Brynna has experience performing with clarinets, saxophones, and flute, and she loves learning new instruments.
Heidi
Eberhardt
Heidi Eberhardt is a jazz vocalist studying at Kansas City Kansas Community College. As a now third year student, Heidi has developed a love for going the outside the box and being unapologetically herself in both vocal performances and her compositions. Her favorite part about working with the KCJO is meeting and connecting with people through jazz and getting inspiration from watching the performances!
MASTERCLASSES
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's masterclasses give students and lifelong learners the opportunity to observe or perform for jazz icons and local jazz masters. The language of jazz has been passed down from generation to generation, and we continue that tradition through these classes. Participants can learn not just to play, but to be true musicians.
LISTENING PARTIES
Listening parties are one-hour sessions of a live performance and discussion of influential albums, musicians, and movements in jazz, curated and presented by our musicians. These free events are designed to foster interest, knowledge, and appreciation for jazz, one of Kansas City's most iconic exports.
JAZZ CAFÉ
Jazz Café brings in a live combo over a school's lunch hour at no cost. This program is designed to help foster the next generation's appreciation of jazz through a fun, immersive, and of course, educational listening experience.
WORKSHOPS & CLINICS
Jazz Café brings in a live combo over a school's lunch hour at no cost. This program is designed to help foster the next generation's appreciation of jazz through a fun, immersive, and of course, educational listening experience.
VIDEO DIGEST
Delving into topics ranging from Kansas City jazz history to performance mini-classes for aspiring musicians, KCJO's digital education series is equal parts entertaining, informative, and a fun, engaging way for people of all ages to learn about jazz. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date!
KCJO SESSION
KCJO Session Series is a new, monthly jam series that was implemented in August of 2024. The series takes place at The Black Box Theater in Kansas City's West Bottoms neighborhood. The session are organized by a college student who also performs with three KCJO musicians as the "house band."