Alaska Jazz Workshop
Providing Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities in Alaska
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Problem:
Music students from grade 6-12 only receive a very limited exposure to playing creative music in the public schools. Their training is mostly focused only on learning to read notes, follow the conductor, and to behave. Their depth of music knowledge is very shallow regarding music theory, song forms, music history, and the understanding of other World Music Cultures. Students are rarely given the opportunity develop their inner creative musical spirit using improvisation to take chances, develop self confidence, listening, and teaming skills by creating new, original music of their own. The public schools have jazz bands, but most of the students don't know how to improvise. Passionate, creative music students need affordable after school music programs to explore and develop, and share their love of creating new music with other like minded students.
Adults also share a keen interest in developing their inner creativity thru the study of Jazz improvisation.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
The Alaska Jazz Workshop (AJW)offers weekly small jazz combo improvisation classes from September to May for beginning to advanced grade 6 through adult music students. Students perform two or more student concerts each semester open to the public. Instructors include Alaska Jazz Master Artists/educators John Damberg, and Mark Manners.
The AJW also offers a one week intensive Jazz Camp in August each year at the University of Alaska Anchorage Fine Arts Building.
The camp features World renowned Jazz guest artists and Alaska Jazz artists. Students receive 25 hours of instruction from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Student groups are featured in the Student Recital Concert and the guest jazz artist is featured in the Saturday evening AJW Faculty Concert.
Past guest artists include: Amina Figarova, Bobby Shew, Kristin Korb, Jay Thomas, Mimi Fox, Bart Platteau, Michael Davis, Denis Diblasio, Oscar Stagnaro, Allison Miller, Carl Saunders, Jovino Santos Neto, Barney McClure, Peggy Stern, Jon Goforth, Joshua Davis, Paul Lucas, and Nadine Shanti. Alaska instructors include John Damberg, Mark Manners, Rick Zelinsky, Karen Strid-Chadwick, Bob Andrews, Yngvil Vatn Guttu, Bob Andrews, Dirk Westfall, Kerry Maule, and Cameron Cartland.
The AJW also offers yearly Jazz Education and Performance field trips. Past trips have included the 2002-04 IAJE Conventions in New York, City, NY and Los Angeles, CA the 2006-13 Next Generation Jazz Festivals in Monterey, CA, the 2015 Jazz Educators Convention in San Diego, CA, a 2016 Music and Culture trip to Havana, Cuba, and a 2017 Music and Culture trip to New Orleans, LA.
The AJW Jazz Education Outreach program provides 20-25 concerts and workshops for the middle and high schools in South Central, AK
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of participants attending course/session/workshop
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Attendees for the AJW Weekly Jazz Improvisation classes and the AJW August Jazz Camp at UAA. Attendees declined in 2020 because the August Jazz Camp was cancelled due to the Corona virus Pandemic.
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of students that attended the AJW weekly small combo jazz improvisation classes, the August 2022 Jazz camp, and the May 2022 Middle and High school AJW Jazz Workshops.
Number of students enrolled in service-learning courses
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of students enrolled in the AJW weekly classes and the August 2022 Jazz Camp
Average dollar price for classes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This is the price/week for the AJW weekly small jazz combo improvisation classes from September 2023-May 2023
Number of paid registrants to classes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of students that have paid tuition to attend the AJW weekly small jazz combo improvisation classes and the AJW August 2022 Jazz Camp.
Number of professional artists employed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This includes 8 teachers for the AJW weekly classes and the August 2022 Jazz Camp and 35 musicians who performed at the AJW Summer 2022 Jazz Concerts at Peratrovich Park in Anchorage, AK
Total number of free performances given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This represents the free community and school concerts the AJW students and faculty provided in South Central Alaska.
Total number of paid seats filled for performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This is the number of paid admissions for the AJW Student and Faculty concerts from 7/1/22-6/30/23
Total number of performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This metric includes 18 performances by the AJW Students and Faculty members and 12 performances by Local Anchorage Professional musicians at the AJW Summer 2022 Jazz Concerts at Peratrovich Park .
Total number of classes offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This includes 6 AJW weekly small jazz combo improvisation classes and the August 2022 Jazz Camp with 4 different classes.
Total number of audience members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Alaska Jazz Workshop Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This metric includes all the AJW student, faculty, school concerts, and community concerts from 7/1/22 to 6/30/23.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The goal of the Alaska Jazz Workshop (AJW) is to provide high quality, affordable Jazz Education and Performance Opportunity programs, not currently offered else were in Alaska, to passionate music students from grade 6 through adults in Alaska of all socio-economic levels. The AJW's small combo jazz improvisation classes and August Jazz Camp provide vehicles for students to learn to take creative chances, develop self confidence, listening, and teaming skills through the study of Jazz song repertoire, music theory, and song forms. Students develop their music improvisation vocabulary by mentoring with Alaska Jazz Master Artists and world renowned guest Jazz Artists on a year round basis.
The AJW provides its Jazz Education and performance programs to passionate music students of all socio-economic backgrounds. To support this the AJW has provided over 203 student class tuition and field trip scholarships since 1995. The AJW's Jazz Education Outreach program provides 20-25 concerts/workshops to the middle and high schools of South Central Alaska on a yearly basis to expose new students to the fun art of Jazz improvisation.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The AJW provides 4 weekly small jazz combo education classes to music students from grade 6 through adults on a year round basis. The AJW also runs a one week intensive Jazz Camp at the University of Alaska Anchorage the first week of August each year since 2001. The AJW Jazz Education and Performance Outreach Program provides concerts and workshops in the ASD, Mat-Su, and Kenai Peninsula Borough middle & high schools, at UAA, for many communities in South Central Alaska, in the AJW Weekly Community Jazz Jam Sessions at the S. Anchorage Inspire Cafe, the Organic Oasis, and for local charities including Bean's Cafe, the Children's lunchbox, and the Spirit of Youth. The AJW has also provided yearly Jazz and Music Culture education and performance field trips since 2006 to the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, CA, the 2015 Jazz Educators Convention in San Diego, CA, to Havana, Cuba in 2016, and New Orleans in 2017. These trips are life changing experiences for the students.
The AJW's small combo jazz improvisation classes provide a vehicle for students to learn to take creative chances, develop self confidence, listening, and teaming skills through the study of Jazz song repertoire, music theory, and song forms. Students develop their music improvisation vocabulary by mentoring with Alaska Jazz Master Artists and world renowned guest Jazz Artists on a year round basis.
The AJW provides its Jazz Education and performance programs to passionate music students of all socio-economic backgrounds. To support this the AJW has provided over 203 student class tuition and field trip scholarships since 1995.
The AJW Community concerts and weekly community jazz jam sessions provide a place for people who love to play and listen to Jazz, Blues, Latin, and Funk style music to gather to practice, and enjoy this creative art form. They have a chance to network with each other, make new friends, and share their passion for creative music making. It helps connect these folks and gives them a sense of place and purpose, which is so laking in today's fast paced world!
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The AJW, run by President John Damberg, has been providing its classes, workshops, student concert, and community outreach concerts and workshops since since it's inception in 2000. The AJW program services and activities are provided by Alaska Master Jazz Artists/Instructors, and internationally acclaimed guest artists. The AJW's programs are fully supported by class tuitions, donations, grants, and the generous donation of many hours of its volunteers including the AJW Board of Directors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
So Far the AJW has Accomplished:
The Small Jazz Combo Improvisation class was founded by John Damberg in 1995 at the request of ASD teachers and students, because of his creative approach to teaching music while subbing in the ASD. It started with one weekly class at UAA and has grown into 4 weekly AJW classes and a one week AJW August Jazz Camp. It was incorporated as the Alaska Jazz Workshop in 2000 so that it could attract donors and apply for support grants. The AJW is a community based non-profit providing Jazz Education and Performance Opportunities programs in Alaska.
The Alaska Jazz Workshop (AJW) has provided high quality, affordable Jazz Education and Performance Opportunity programs since 2000, not currently offered else were in Alaska, to over 3,000 passionate music students from grade 6 through adults in Alaska of all socio-economic levels. The AJW's small combo jazz improvisation classes have provided a vehicle for students to learn to take creative chances, develop self confidence, listening, and teaming skills through the study of Jazz song repertoire, music theory, and song forms.
The AJW has connected up eager students with Alaska Jazz Master Artists John Damberg, Mark Manners, Nick Petumenos, Kerry Maule, Karen Strid-Chadwick, Rick Zelinsky, Cameron Cartland, George Pierce, Bob Andrews, Yngvil Vatn Guttu, Andy Mullen, Jeff Baird, and George Mancini on a year round basis. It has also provided Alaska students with access to world class Jazz Artists on a yearly basis thru the August AjW Jazz Camp at UAA. Past guest artists include: Kristin Korb, Denis Diblasio, Amina Figarova, Jay Thomas, Mimi Fox, Jovino Santos Neto, Rebeca Mauleon, Bart Platteau,Vince Cherico, Allison Miller, Karl Saunders, Barney McClure, Michael Davis, Oscar Stagnaro, Nadine Shanti, Vick Cherico, Peggy Stern, Paul Lucas, Mike Doolin, Jon Goforth, and Bobby Shew.
The AJW has also provided yearly educational field trips and scholarships to students in need since 2001 to the Next Generation Jazz Festivals in Monterey, CA, Music and Culture trips to Havana, Cuba and New Orleans, LA, and trips to the Jazz Educators Network and the IAJE conferences in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York.
The AJW provides its Jazz Education and performance programs to passionate music students of all socio-economic backgrounds. To support this the AJW has provided over 198 student class tuition and field trip scholarships since 1995. The AJW's Jazz Education Outreach program provides 20-25 concerts/workshops to the middle and high schools of South Central Alaska on a yearly basis to expose new students to the fun art of Jazz improvisation.
What's next for the AJW
To seek more opportunities to grow and sustain the AJW current programs through grant writing and connecting with more donors. This will enable the AJW hire 1-2 paid administrative staff members to oversee the continued growth of the AjW Programs.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Alaska Jazz Workshop
Board of directorsas of 12/16/2023
Mr John Damberg
John Damberg Creative Music
Term: 2000 -
Mark Manners
John Damberg
John Damberg Creative Music
Angela Dewey
Yngvil Vatn Guttu
Northern Culture Exchange
Cameron Cartland
Nick Petumenos
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as: