The Symphonic Jazz Orchestra (SJO) believes in the power of music to transform individuals, schools and communities. Created in 2001, the SJO is uniquely dedicated to blending the worlds of jazz and classical music with a mission to inspire and educate through its “Music in the Schools” residency program and free community concerts and to commission and perform symphonic jazz compositions in concerts across Southern California. The SJO has presented community concerts, master classes, assemblies, workshops, and in-school residencies, reaching over 50,000 people throughout Los Angeles County. The 68-member Symphonic Jazz Orchestra has commissioned 26 new works and performed 34 world premieres. In 2007, Music Director and SJO Founder Mitch Glickman developed a music education curriculum that was piloted in 4 classrooms and eventually became the “Music in the Schools” Program. Since then, it has expanded to a team of 8 Teaching Artists that work with 82 classrooms in 10 schools each and every week throughout the school year, serving over 1,600 students. The residencies range from Pre-School through 8th grade, building a sequential program that is not only aligned with California VAPA standards, but also ties into math, science, social studies and creative writing.
Our Teaching Artists currently work in over 82 classrooms each week, reaching over 1,600 students with our dynamic music residencies. Our programs offer year-long, sequential music curricula for Pre-School through 8th grade, which integrate subjects such as math, science, language arts, history, geography, and foreign language. In addition to our in-school programs, we provide after school programs for all grades, including keyboard, choir, and middle school ensembles. We currently serve schools in the Lennox and South Los Angeles communities.