JazzWorks!
A Charlie Brown Christmas:
STUDENT MATINEE
Good grief! Nostalgia meets improvisation as KCJO presents a beloved tradition. This year, we invite students to an abbreviated matinee showing in Helzberg Hall from 10:30-11:15 am. The Kauffman Center Bus Transportation Fund provides partial or full reimbursement for schools that use bus transportation to attend this show. Schools are responsible for arranging their own transportation and submitting a reimbursement application to Kauffman Center. That application form should be submitted in addition to the reservation form to attend the student matinee. For reservations, click the image.
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For the Bus Transportation Fund application go to:
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.
MASTER CLASSES
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's masterclasses give students and lifelong learners the opportunity to observe or perform for jazz icons and local jazz masters. We offer master classes in Kansas City public libraries as well as in schools
LISTENING PARTY
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.
JAZZ CAFE
Jazz Cafe 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 AND CLINICS
KCJO Workshops and Clinics bring a professional jazz artist straight into your school's daily schedule, working directly with your student ensemble during their regular rehearsal block.
These in-school sessions give young musicians the chance to collaborate with a Kansas City Jazz Orchestra bandmember on everything from technique and style to improvisation, ensemble communication, and the history that shapes the KC sound Built to energize students through hands-on music-making, our clinics create an engaging, supportive environment that strengthens skills, boosts confidence, and connects your program to the living tradition of jazz in Kansas City.
PROGRAMS WE OFFER
MASTER CLASSES
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's masterclasses give students and lifelong learners the opportunity to observe or perform for jazz icons and local jazz masters. We offer master classes in Kansas City public libraries as well as in schools
LISTENING PARTY
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.
JAZZ CAFE
Jazz Cafe 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 AND CLINICS
KCJO Workshops and Clinics bring a professional jazz artist straight into your school's daily schedule, working directly with your student ensemble during their regular rehearsal block.
These in-school sessions give young musicians the chance to collaborate with a Kansas City Jazz Orchestra bandmember on everything from technique and style to improvisation, ensemble communication, and the history that shapes the KC sound Built to energize students through hands-on music-making, our clinics create an engaging, supportive environment that strengthens skills, boosts confidence, and connects your program to the living tradition of jazz in Kansas City.
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."
Groove'n Learn
Presented by:
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 :
COME EXPERIENCE THE NEW JAZZ ORDER Tuesday nights at the Westport Flea Market from 6:30-9
Click here to visit the NJO Page
STUDENTS ARE FREE
WANNA PLAY WITH THE BAND?
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.
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
Leah DeGarmo is one of our interns for the 2026-2027 season and a recent graduate of West Virginia University, where she played the trumpet, viola, and fiddle. She has her bachelor's in music and a minor in Appalachian music. Leah enjoys doing yoga in her free time and is excited to be a part of the team and looks forward to contributing to KCJO.
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Leah DeGarmo
Will Kimlinger
William Kimlinger is one of our interns for the 2026-2027 season. Will graduated from Platte County High School in 2025 and is currently attending KCKCC for audio engineering and plays the baritone saxophone.
Paxton Rojas
Paxton Rojas is one of our interns for the 2026-2027 season. He is a senior at Rockhurst High School and plays the piano and drum set. In his free time, Paxton enjoys writing about his favorite shows.
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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.
WANT TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF JAZZ IN KANSAS CITY?
JazzWorks! brings the spirit of jazz directly into classrooms, community centers, and concert halls—igniting creativity, curiosity, and connection in learners of all ages. From student jam sessions to public masterclasses, every program is a chance to pass the torch and keep the music alive.
Your gift makes it possible to:
-Deliver live jazz experiences to local schools
-Mentor young musicians through hands-on learning
-Host free listening events and educational workshops
-Expand access to jazz education across our region
KCJO 2026-27 Interns
The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra internship is sponsored by The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
Leah DeGarmo
Leah DeGarmo is one of our interns for the 2026-2027 season and a recent graduate of West Virginia University, where she played the trumpet, viola, and fiddle. She has her bachelor's in music and a minor in Appalachian music. Leah enjoys doing yoga in her free time and is excited to be a part of the team and looks forward to contributing to KCJO.
Will Kimlinger
William Kimlinger is one of our interns for the 2026-2027 season. Will graduated from Platte County High School in 2025 and is currently attending KCKCC for audio engineering and plays the baritone saxophone.
Paxton Rojas
Paxton Rojas is one of our interns for the 2026-2027 season. He is a senior at Rockhurst High School and plays the piano and drum set. In his free time, Paxton enjoys writing about his favorite shows.