About the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra
Celebrating its 30th season, Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO) is the Pacific Northwest’s premiere big band jazz orchestra. Co-founded in 1995 by drummer Clarence Acox and saxophonist Michael Brockman, SRJO is dedicated to preserving and advancing the tradition of large ensemble jazz through performances, educational programs, and collaborations with renowned artists. SRJO is known for its high-quality performances and commitment to free and affordable jazz education in the Greater Seattle area.
SRJO is a unique 17-piece ensemble that features many of the finest jazz musicians in the region. Seven current members of the orchestra have been inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, as well as eight former SRJO members. Several have won individual awards for “NW Best Instrumentalist,” “NW Emerging Talent” and “NW Best Recording.”Our members include award-winners, educators, and some of the most sought-after musicians in the area. They have toured with legends, been mentored by icons, and released their own albums. Learn more about The Band. The orchestra's rich repertoire encompasses a wide range of styles and eras in jazz, from ragtime, classic swing, and bebop, to contemporary compositions and arrangements.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Brockman, SRJO has gained recognition for its artistic excellence and contributions to the jazz community.
Mission, Vision and Value Statements
Jazz, as an African American art form, is celebrated globally. SRJO’s mission is to expand appreciation of large ensemble jazz, share the joy of live professional jazz performance, and educate future generations of jazz musicians.
Our vision is that SRJO be recognized as one of the cultural treasures of the Pacific Northwest.
We value the discovery and celebration of jazz by everyone. We recognize that our differences make us stronger and more creative and help us collectively reach and delight all audiences. We commit to establishing policies, practices, and systems of cultural equity that empower everyone. We will support this pledge across connections with our donors, patrons, corporate sponsors, and industry partners.
These are our long-term goals:
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To build and sustain the West’s preeminent professional, repertory, large ensemble jazz band. To enlarge and diversify the audiences for our live performances.
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To educate and inspire the next generation to value and play this music, and to educate audiences of all ages about large ensemble jazz.​
Board of Directors
Susan Colligan
Susan Jenkins
Chris Jamba
Steve Dunphy
Joe Renn
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Immediate Past
President
Abe Beeson
James Brown
Marty Dennis
Mack Grout
Neal Friedman
Fran Kremen
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Karen Roberts
Stillman Saunders
Ken Steiner
Janet Upegui
John Vassall
Sandra Walker
Staff
Michael Brockman - Artistic Director
Clarence Acox - Artistic Director Emeritus
Angie Battalio - Box Office Manager
Ann-Marie Granger - Production Manager
NOTE-BY-NOTE: MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER JAZZ BAND
SRJO is in the "business" of preserving jazz. We work to recover lost-to-print jazz, making available to orchestras the ability to bring these compositions to jazz lovers around the world. We may not have a historic building, but we have been building a historic orchestra, by recovering jazz classics for performance by the ensemble is accomplished by director Michael Brockman, our region's outstanding practitioner of the art of transcribing lost-to-print composition and arrangement, note for note, from vintage recordings.
The SRJO's extensive and growing repertoire is drawn from the 100-year history of jazz, from turn-of-the-20th-century ragtime to turn-of-the-21st-century avant-garde. This included works by America's most famous jazz composers, among them Fletcher Henderson, Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Thad Jones, and of course, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. In addition, the SRJO's repertoire grows each year as the ensemble adds previously unpublished works to the SRJO library.
