Jazz Society of Oregon

Jazz Society of Oregon: Promoting Jazz in the Pacific Northwest

The Jazz Society of Oregon (JSO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers. Its stated mission is to promote jazz music in the Pacific Northwest region. To that end, it carries out jazz education activities, fosters member participation through events and publications, awards scholarships to new and established artists, and supports programs that teach jazz, as well as spreading appreciation for this musical genre. The organization thanks the members who have donated their time for more than 35 years to keep the organization alive and notes that it always welcomes new volunteers.

Publications and Calendar

The society publishes the monthly magazine JazzScene, which includes interviews with featured musicians and album reviews. The publication accepts advertising both in the magazine and on the organization's website. In addition, JSO maintains a calendar of jazz events and offers the possibility to submit performances for inclusion. The coordination of the calendar and the editing of the magazine fall to specific people within the team.

Festivals and Events

The organization promotes the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, a free festival that is sustained by sponsor support. JSO invites collaboration through financial donations or contributions of products and services; in return, it offers visibility to sponsors on radio, print, internet, and television, and has a VIP hospitality tent during the festival. The society has also been behind events such as the Montavilla Jazz Festival, whose sixth edition was held on August 17 and 18 at Portland Metro Arts, with Mel Brown and Gordon Lee as headliners, and the Friends of Music Jazz Festival, an annual outdoor festival at Villa Catalana Cellars whose proceeds go to the Friends of Music scholarship program.

Scholarships and Education

One of JSO's pillars is support for music education. The organization awards scholarships to new and existing artists and to programs that teach jazz, and has an education committee within its leadership team. It also manages a jazz scholarship application and receives requests to perform.

Structure and Team

The Jazz Society of Oregon operates with a board of directors and several committees. Ben Fajen serves as president; Dan Presley as vice president; Robert Lubach as director and secretary, and Margaret Downen as director and treasurer. Bryant Allard chairs the education committee; Dale Dobbins, the volunteer committee; Brian Kelly, the marketing committee, and Yvonne Lerch and Arthur Marx co-chair the development and fundraising committee. Christine Hochstatter coordinates the calendar, Rita Rega handles interviews with featured musicians, and a social media team completes the structure. The organization has a federal tax identification number.

Membership, Volunteering, and Contact

JSO encourages participation as a member or volunteer in its events and offers information about benefits and membership management. The organization handles general inquiries, volunteer proposals, event submissions to the calendar, questions about JazzScene magazine, sponsorship of programs and events, advertising purchases, billing and financial matters, as well as website issues. The society operates under the trademarks JSO, Jazz Society of Oregon, JazzScene, CPJazz, and Cathedral Park Jazz Festival.

Location and Contact

P.O. Box 19882 Portland, Oregon 97280 · Phone: 503.709.3366 · Email: info@jazzoregon.com