The Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Blog

Now in its 16th year, the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra’s (SJO) “Music in the Schools” residencies serve nearly 5,000 elementary students each week in yearlong residencies in Watts, [...]

In partnership with KJAZZ 88.1 we are excited to announce the new dates and performers for the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert on Sunday, September 18th [...]

I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the debut of the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, which was 20 years ago today. Twenty years into this journey, we have commissioned and premiered over 20 new [...]

Supported by grants from local foundations and individual donors, the SJO was so excited to start our newest partner school, Roosevelt Elementary School in Long Beach Unified School District, [...]

After consideration amidst the surge in Covid-19 cases, the SJO has decided to postpone its March 13th 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. We [...]

The Symphonic Jazz Orchestra celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a Gala Concert on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. The 68-member ensemble, [...]

The ASCAP Foundation and the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra are pleased to announce Christopher Zuar as the recipient of the 7th Annual ASCAP Foundation/Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Commissioning [...]

With the continuing success of its Commissioning Prize competition honoring former Symphonic Jazz Orchestra (SJO) Co-Music Director and ASCAP board member, George Duke, the SJO is proud to [...]

Make a donation to the SJO by May 7, 2021 and you could win a 30-minute virtual one-on-one session with GRAMMY award winning jazz pianist and composer Billy Childs. We’re thrilled to [...]

While we may not be able to gather in-person for concerts right now, the SJO has launched its new YouTube channel where you can watch concert video samplers from our past concerts and family [...]