2008
our STORY BEGINS
JEN’s story begins in 2008 when two Jazz industry veterans, Mary Jo Papich and Dr. Lou Fischer, sought to fill a void in the jazz education scene. They brought together 34 leaders in the jazz community, developing the mission and bylaws for what was to become the Jazz Education Network. This gathering and subsequent gatherings, led to the organization’s first conference in St. Louis, MO, with 1,500 attendees.
2010
the first jen conference
JEN’s first conference in 2010 in St. Louis led to the establishment of the organization’s annual conference, which occurs every January. JEN’s annual conference is a gathering of jazz educators, students, professional musicians, researchers, music industry professionals, and features performances, workshops, clinics, and research presentations. The annual conference serves an average of 3,500 individuals each year.
2012
The establishment of JEN’s annual conference led to the organization expanding its programming to serve the jazz community on a year-round basis. These programs included the JEN Scholarship program and the Young Composer Showcase. JEN’s scholarship program supports high school and college-aged students and has provided over $100,000 in scholarships since the program’s inception in 2010. The Young Composer Showcase spotlights young jazz composers, premiering and recording their works at the annual JEN conference. Both programs are permanent fixtures in the organization’s programming, spotlighting the talented students in the JEN community.
photo by Cherie Hansson
JENERATIONS JAZZ FESTIVAL
JEN’s Board of Directors recognized the need for more learning opportunities for music educators and their students. In 2012, they launched the JENerations Jazz Festival. Inviting primary and secondary schools, and community and collegiate musicians of all ages to perform, the JENerations Jazz Festival runs concurrently with the annual JEN conference. Each group that performs as a part of the JENerations Jazz Festival receives a clinic session with world-class clinicians. Since the program’s inception, we have hosted more than 1,000 student performers at our annual conference.
photo by Frances Scanlon
2013
In 2013, JEN took aspects of its annual conference and JENerations Jazz Festival directly to schools with its JAZZ2U program. With support from the Herb Alpert Foundation, JAZZ2U was formed to help bring clinicians and performers to schools and community centers across the country. The program has given more than $200,000 to support bringing artists directly to schools and community centers, with 35,000 individuals served per year.
2017
EXPANSION OF LEADERSHIP TEAM
Until 2017, JEN had operated as a largely volunteer-run organization, with its Board of Directors serving in a working capacity. The organization grew significantly in 2017 with the appointment of Sharon Burch as Managing Director. With an effective combination of Board strategy and Sharon’s leadership, JEN began to take an integrated, strategic approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA), addressing the intersectional inequalities that exist for our membership and community. JEN began to establish new programs which supported its DEIA initiatives, including the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition, which supports individuals identifying as women or non-binary.
2019
In 2019, the organization grew further, naming Jesse Nolan as the Director of Marketing and Membership to support the needs of its membership. Through this new role, the organization has been able to better understand the needs of its membership and has developed its Area Networks and Chapters across the U.S. and across the globe. Today, JEN has over 4,200 individual members, including students, and serves more than 30,000 individuals each year. JEN members include educators, students, professional musicians, researchers, music industry professionals, and jazz enthusiasts.
photo by Frances Scanlon
leadership expansion 2.0
FOUNDING MEMBERS
JEN is proud to recognize our founding members
Frank Alkyer • Ruben Alvarez • David Baker • Lida Baker • Melody Balicki • Shelly Berg • John Blane • Robert Breithaupt • David Caffey • Warrick Carter • Paul Chiaravalle • Craig Cornwall • Steve Crissinger • Bob Curnow • Orbert Davis • Sid Davis • Jose Diaz • Rick Dillard • Larelyn Douglas • Ken Druker • Richard Dunscomb • J.B. Dyas • Ray Eubanks • Jon Faddis • Rob Fielder • Dr. Lou Fischer • Mary Ann Fischer • Erika Floreska • Antonio Garcia • Larry Green • Dan Gregerman • Jarrard Harris • John Hasse • Willie Hill, Jr. • Steve Houghton • Chuck Iwanusa • Michael Kenyon • Rick Kessel • Sparky Koerner • Doug Lady • Joel Leach • Eric Martin • Scott McCormick • Ronald Modell • James Moody • Linda Moody • Fran Morris Rosman • Charles Owen • Jo Anne Papich • Mary Jo Papich • Alex Parker • Sandra Pierre-Kazi • Dr. Rocky J. Reuter • Ellen Rowe • Lynne Rutherford • Paris Rutherford • Judy Shafer • Bruce Silva • Doug Snapp • Andrew Surmani • Dennis Tini • Julie Traenkenschuh • Mike Vax • Gene Wenner • Jim Widner • Herb Wong
photo by Frances Scanlon
jen charter member individuals
jen is proud OF our charter members, who were the first to join JEN
Established by December 31, 2008
David Aaberg • Charles Abplanalp • Clarence Acox • Dave Adams • Wilton Aebersold • Allan E. Aitken • Jamilah Allwood • Ken Anderson • Steve Anderson • Michael Arenson • James Argiro • Carol Argiro • Lynne Arriale • Martin Ashby • Yvonne Au • Robert Babko • John Baboian • Noah Baerman • Pete Barenbregge • William Bargetzi • Philippe Baugh • Doug Beach • David Bean • Cathy Benford • Chuck Berg • Keith G. Berg • Corey Bergdorf • Bob Bernotas • Thomas W. Billing • Ed Bingham • Alan Black • Brad Bleam • Tom Bledsaw • Paul Bloomquist • Walter Boenig • Mark Boling • Janice Borla • Damian Boyd • Jeremy Bradstreet • Mary & Mike Brooks • Anita Brown • Roger Brown • Darius Brubeck • Zachary Bruch • Timothy Buchholz • Cordell Bugbee • Eric Burgeson • John Burns • Rex Cadwallader • Alan Caldwell • Iantheia Calhoun • Steve Call • Katrina Calvosa • Joseph Camillo • Brent Campbell • Stephen Cannedy • Andrea Canter • Lenny Carlson • Steve Carter • Katchie Cartwright • Manuel Castaneda • Rachel Caswell • Sara Caswell • Ndugu Chancler • Caleb Chapman • Colin Charman • David Christie • Marilyn Clark • Warren Clark • John Clayton • Stephen Clickard • Robert Clowes • Paul Combs • Richard Condit • Gloria Cooper • Jose Cordero • Derek Craig • Thomas Croghan • Brad Curran • Joseph Daigle • Evetta Dalla • Mike Danforth • Byron Delto • Kent Devereaux • Greg Diethrich • Mark Dorn • Diane Downs • Lika Dozier • Ben Drouet • Glyn Dryhurst • Rob Duboff • James Ebert • Jay Ecker • Rosana Eckert • Shane Ellsworth • Kahil El’zabar • Randy Emert • Peter Erskine • Valerie A. Evensen • Paul Evoskevich • Craig Fattey • John Fedchock • John Felts • Mary Fettig • Tracy Firth • Mark Flaherty • David Fodor • Joel Foreman • Steven Frank • Noelle M. Frost • Lee Galloway • Hal Galper • Bruce Gates • Luvenia George • Nicoletta Geraca • Rocco Giglio • Stephen Gilmore • John Ginocchio • Richard Gore • Greg Gozzard • Nancy Grant • Clifford Gribble • Richard Groeling – Chris Gunn • Christine Guter • Jimmy Haag • David Haile • William Halbrook • Scott Hall • Rosemary N. Hallum • Brian Hamada • Robert Hamilton • Neil Hansen • Chip Henderson • Doug Henry • Jim Hile • Clarence Hines • Karah Hiscott • Wayne Hoey • David Hoffman • James Holden • E. Ron Horton • Lloyd Hughes • Ben Huntoon • Mark Ingram • Michael Irish • Jennifer Jablonski • Cary Jacobs • Matthew James • Tomas Janzon • Robin Jenkins • Clay Jenkins • Don Jones • David Joyner • A.J. Julian • Dan Kalnes • Dr. Sais Kamalidiin • Egan Kawamoto • David Kay • Ron Kearns • Donald Keat • Rachel Kelly • Lisa Kelly • Steve King • Len King • Alan Kinsey • Randy Klein • Rob Klevan • Mike Knauf • John Knecht • Robert Knop • Kristin Korb • Darren Kramer • Michael Krechevsky • Leann Kritz • Mark Kross • John Kuzmich • John Labarbera • Lori Lacey • Paul Lancaster • Linda Landis • Gary Langford • Arthur Lapierre • Larry Lapin • Neil Larrivee • James Lase • Eric Late • Edward Laux • Rick Lawn • Dana Legg • Joel Leipzig • Steve Lesche • Audrey Levin • Mark Levine • Howard Levy • Jack Lightfoot • Bert Ligon • Joe Lill • Michelle Loeffler • Brian Logan • Salvatore Lopresti • Walt Lovell • Sherry Luchette • Kathy Lyon • John Mahoney • Tom Malone • Marc Mannino • Mike Manser • Bart Marantz • Randy D. Marble • Alexander Marianyi • Sherrie Maricle • Harry Marvin • Thom Mason • Tim Matteson • Kathleen Matthews • Phil Mattson • Philip May • Lissa May • Michael McCarrell • William B. McClellan • Kimberly McCord • Gary McCourry • Ron McCurdy • Patrick McDermott • Jennifer Mcdonel • Jim McFalls • Curtis Mckendrick • James McNeely • Jay Miglia • James Miley • Christopher Miller • Bob Mintzer • Bob Montgomery • Erik Morales • Matt Moresi • Dan Moretti • Robert Morgan • Steven Morphy • Gunnar Mossblad • Mark Moultrup • Eugene T. Mouse • Paul Mundo • Matthew Niess • Mark Nowak • Darrell Omanson • Miles Osland • Joseph Ott • Tom Palmer • Jo Anne Papich • Connie Papich Sinnott • Don Parker • Sean Parsons • Alan Pasqua • Marianne Pastelak • Ann Patterson • Ericka Paul • Paul Pearce • Dwayne Pedigo • Dewitt Peterson • Rick Petrone • Nick Phillips • Lisa Pogoff • Larry Polk • Terri Pontremoli • James Popejoy • Debbie Poryes • Frank Potenza • Mike Price • Christian Provetto • Larry Pugh • Donovan Putnam • Gregory Quigley • Bob Radock • Karthik Ramalingam • William Ravel • Bob Rebagliati • Bill Reinecke • Jim Repa • Napoleon Revels-Bey • Virginia Rezac • Charles Richard • Frances Richard • Hal Richards • Saul Richardson • Rex Richardson • Derek Richey • Kim Richmond • Larry Ridley • Paul Rinzler • Steve Roach • David Robinson • Coila Robinson • Mike Rossi • Ron Rudkin • Jim Rupp • Rob Ryndak • Randy Sabien • Mike Samball • James Samz • Jovino Santos Neto • Tim Savage • Craig Saxton • Linda Scarborough • Rick Schmunk • Jeffrey Schneider • Howard Schuff • Zach Schwartz • J.B. Scott • Lynn Seaton • Cathy Segal-Garcia • Terry Segress • Chuck Sher • Bobby Shew • Michael Shirtz • John Shoup • Monica Shriver • Bob Sinicrope • William Sinnott • Catherine Skinner • Cecilia Smith • Howie Smith • Chuck Smith • Cindy Smith • Stan Smith • Doug Snapp • Warren Sneed • Dean Sorenson • Bradley Sowash • Marvin Sparks • Marvin Stamm • J. Tabor Stamper • Jason Stephens • William Stevens • Roxanne Stevenson • Steve Stevenson • Ron Stinson • Rick Stone • Tom Streeter • Shilo Stroman • Heiki Tamm • Mark Taylor • Thomas Tedesco • Nancy Terry • John Thomas • Scott Thompson • Jerry Tolson • Mike Tomaro • Brian Q. Torff • Zvonimir Tot • Gordon Towell • Dennis Trainor • Keith Umbach • Erika Uribe • Dan Valkema • Rick Van Matre • John Vandergheynst • Paul Vanhorn • Peggy Vax • Christopher Venesile • Richard Victor • Matthew Von Doran • Robert Waggoner • Jeffrey Waggoner • Jim Warrick • Bob Washut • Paul Watson • Russ Weaver • Alexandra Weber Morales • Michele Weir • Gene Wenner • George West • Wally West • Neil Wetzel • Jack Wilkins • Skip Wilkins • Dennis Wilson • Matthew Wilson • Scott Wilson • John Wittmann • John Wojciechowski • Jeffrey Wolfe • Ellen Wolpert • Steve Wright • Mark Yost • Isaac Zuckerman
