Chicago Jazz Philharmonic

What began as Orbert Davis’ dream for a symphonic orchestra capable of blending the best of jazz and classical music, has become a metaphor and artistic vehicle for the merging of so much more, locally and worldwide. Needs being addressed by CJP performance and education programs include:

1) Providing access to quality performance and education programs: CJP programs are intentionally mounted in areas of cultural and socio-economic need. While some performances may take place downtown at major cultural venues, others are programmed in community venues throughout the Chicagoland area. Education programs target schools and communities with little to no music programs and ensure there is no financial barrier to access.

2) Developing and diversifying audiences: the experience of being a CJP audience member is incomparable to purely jazz or classical experiences. Chicago Jazz Philharmonic concert-goers blend these disparate audiences, and come from diverse communities, ethnicities, multi-generational ages, and socio-economic status – representing the depth and breadth of our cities’ peoples.

3) Cultivating well-rounded musicians: CJP is cultivating a new movement and generation of musicians that can perform fluently across various genres, breaking down barriers in higher education institutions, and connecting players that would not ever otherwise had the opportunity to collaborate and perform together.

Performance Programs: In ensembles ranging from the full 60-piece orchestra to the double quartet, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic performs a wide repertoire combining jazz and classical idioms in original arrangements and world premieres. In general, artistic programming has consistent elements of CHICAGO (performers) JAZZ (composition) PHILHARMONIC (in a classical concerto setting). Opportunities for new cross-genre collaborations are continually sought to uphold qualities of innovation and diversity in the repertoire.

Education Programs: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s approach to music education is to holistically develop a successful student – with the aim of setting our students up for success whether in music, in school, another passion, and life in general. With a philosophy of “meeting students where they are” CJP’s education programs have a wide spectrum of impact - to teach important life skills, combat student attrition, or perhaps earn a seat in the CJP orchestra.

International Residencies: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic travels 3-5 of its core musicians, under the direction of Orbert Davis, and partners with local resident orchestras (university or professional level) to engage in 3-5 days of workshops, rehearsals, and culminating performance. This program seeks to build a global orchestra based upon bilateral exchange and deep cooperation. This program has taken place in Louisville, KY (2009), Poland (2009 and 2014), Cuba (2014), and Bulgaria (2016).

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic is currently operated by a 7-member staff, 9-member Board of Directors and 20-member Advisory Board. Staff leadership is comprised of Executive Director Rhapsody Snyder, working alongside two Co-Founders – Artistic Director Orbert Davis, and Producing Director Mark Ingram. Day-to-day operations are carried out by a Development Manager, an Education Programs Manager, a Communications Coordinator, and a Program Assistant.

The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s arsenal of 60 musicians are drawn from a wealth of Chicago area talent. Between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, and first-rate jazz musicians here, it is no wonder that orchestra members recount their CJP performances combining jazz and classical languages, as “unlike anything [they] have ever experienced playing.” Orchestra musicians are recruited first for their internal diversity, that is, their ability to play across various genres and musical languages. This, in turn, has created an orchestra that, as a whole, is externally diverse.

The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s education programs have given professional artists an opportunity to inspire, teach, and mentor Chicago Public School students, not to mention serve as an additional source of steady income. Apart from participating in school-wide assemblies, several orchestra musicians also undergo intensive training from CJP staff to become teaching mentors for our “Jazz Alive” education programs. Teaching artists receive continuing professional development in pedagogy, classroom management, and curriculum training throughout the year. Currently, the Jazz Alive program regularly contracts with approximately 20 teaching artists (15 of whom are also orchestra musicians).

The organization’s achievements were recognized with the prestigious 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. In addition to being able to establish a stable operating reserve, this funding enabled the organization to develop a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan, currently on-track in implementation. An overarching directive of the organization’s strategic plan is to employ CJP’s “Change Narrative” to inform its artistic planning and it has been a decisive factor in shaping our programming on the stage and in the classroom ever since.

As CJP enters its second decade, our dreams include expanding and deepening international partnerships, strengthening ties with local Chicago communities through performance and education programs that reflect the particular needs of our home city, and establishing a physical facility that will house rehearsal space, music instruction, and practice studios, to attract cross-genre music learners of all ages and levels.