JazzWorks
JazzWorks Canada is an Ottawa-based non-profit, founded in 1994, that delivers jazz education, camps, workshops, jam sessions, vocal open mics, concerts, and high school outreach to adult amateur musicians, talented youth, and jazz enthusiasts in the Ottawa region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What JazzWorks does
JazzWorks Canada is an Ottawa-based not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1994, dedicated to developing jazz musicianship in adult amateur players and talented youth through accessible community programming. Now in its 31st year of operation, JazzWorks began as a one-time workshop at Christie Lake Camp and has evolved into a year-round organization offering an annual summer Jazz Camp and Composers' Symposium/Practice Retreat at the CAMMAC complex in the Laurentians, monthly jam sessions and Vocal Open Mics at Ottawa venues, the 'JazzWorks Presents' concert series at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage, and a free 'Jazz in the Schools' high school mentoring program.
The organization's business model is a diversified non-profit revenue mix: tiered annual 'Friend of JazzWorks' memberships ($25 student, $50 adult, $80 family), event admission fees ($5-$10 for jam sessions), Jazz Camp registration fees, donations and raffles administered through the Ottawa Community Foundation JazzWorks Fund (charitable registration 853852606 RR0001), grants from Canadian Heritage and the Ottawa Community Foundation, and paid advertising in the Ottawa Jazz Happenings weekly newsletter. Programming is delivered through partnerships with the National Arts Centre, Ottawa Jazz Festival, CAMMAC Music Camp, MusicFest (regional and national), Long & McQuade, Steve's Music, Compact Music, Festival Japan Restaurant, and 10,000 Hours Piano Rehearsal Studios.
Operations are led by a small paid staff of two (Executive Director/Producer Judith Humenick and Program Coordinator Catherine Schwartz), governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, and heavily supported by volunteers across administration, design, publicity, fundraising, website management, social media, logistics, and event operations. Customer segments include adult amateur jazz musicians (primary), talented youth and students via over 80 scholarships awarded over 30 years (primary), jazz enthusiasts and listeners (secondary), and jazz vocalists (secondary). JazzWorks operates within Ontario, Canada, with national reach through its National MusicFest scholarship partnership.
JazzWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JazzWorks
- Legal name
- JazzWorks Canada
- Website
- https://jazzworkscanada.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- JazzWorks Canada is an Ottawa-based non-profit, founded in 1994, that delivers jazz education, camps, workshops, jam sessions, vocal open mics, concerts, and high school outreach to adult amateur musicians, talented youth, and jazz enthusiasts in the Ottawa region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JazzWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Education and Community Arts
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Songwriting, Composition & Arranging (EDAMANAG), Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
Keywords
Where JazzWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
JazzWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership/Friendship Fees: Annual membership program ('Friend of JazzWorks') providing discounts on events, free jam session admissions, and newsletter access. Tiered pricing for adults ($50), students ($25), and families ($80). Required for Jazz Camp registration.
- Jazz Camp Registration Fees: Revenue from annual summer Jazz Camp at CAMMAC, including Composers' Symposium and Practice Retreat components. Fees cover tuition and optional accommodation.
- Event Admission Fees: Jam sessions charge $10 General Admission and $5 for Friends of JazzWorks. Concert series and vocal dinner shows have ticket prices. 'JazzWorks Presents' concert tickets sold through Eventbrite.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through Ottawa Community Foundation JazzWorks Fund. Raffle proceeds from events. 30th Anniversary raffle raised close to $1,600. Charitable registration number: 853852606 RR0001.
- Ottawa Jazz Happenings Newsletter Advertising: The OJH calendar accepts paid advertisements from the jazz community at $25/week for single submissions, with discounts for multi-week packages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Adult Friend membership with full benefits including discounted event prices and free jam session admissions |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Friend membership with full benefits at reduced rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Family Friend membership covering two adults and dependent children |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Jam Session admission for general public |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Ottawa Jazz Happenings newsletter advertisement - single submission |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
JazzWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JazzWorks Canada operates a portfolio of accessible jazz music education and performance programs serving adult amateur musicians and talented youth in the Ottawa region. Core deliverables include the annual summer Jazz Camp and Composers' Symposium at CAMMAC, monthly community jam sessions, Vocal Open Mics, the JazzWorks Presents concert series, Jazz in the Schools mentoring, the Ottawa Jazz Happenings community newsletter, and a tiered Friend of JazzWorks membership.
Product overview
JazzWorks Canada is a not-for-profit community organization offering a portfolio of jazz music education and performance programs. The core offerings include the annual Jazz Camp and Composers' Symposium/Practice Retreat (intensive multi-day programs at CAMMAC), monthly Jam Sessions and Vocal Open Mics (ongoing community performance opportunities), the JazzWorks Presents Concert Series (professional artist performances with workshops), Jazz in the Schools (free high school mentoring), Ottawa Jazz Happenings (community newsletter/calendar), and youth scholarship programs. The organization operates primarily in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, serving adult amateur musicians, talented youth, and jazz enthusiasts through year-round programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Jazz Camp at CAMMAC Annual three-day summer jazz music education program held at CAMMAC in the Laurentians, offering workshops, masterclasses, combo rehearsals, and performances for adult and youth musicians.
- Composers' Symposium / Practice Retreat
Quantifiable outcome
- 80+ youth scholarships provided over 30 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use JazzWorks
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
JazzWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
JazzWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.
- Capital Region MusicFest (CRMF)coreAnnual partnership for awarding regional-level JazzWorks Jazz Camp Scholarships to outstanding student musicians selected by CRMF jury panels. JazzWorks provides full camp experience to scholarship winners.
- National MusicFestcorePartnership for awarding national-level JazzWorks Jazz Camp Scholarships to outstanding student musicians from across Canada. Winners receive full scholarship to attend Jazz Camp.
- Long & McQuademajorLong-standing partner offering a full Jazz Camp scholarship awarded through MusicFest. Provides $20 one-time discount on rentals to JazzWorks Friends at Ontario and Quebec locations.
- Steve's MusicsupportingPartner retailer offering JazzWorks Friends 20% discount on print materials and selected giftware at all Ottawa and Montreal locations.
- Compact MusicsupportingPartner retailer offering JazzWorks Friends 10% discount on purchases.
- Festival Japan RestaurantcorePrimary venue for monthly JazzWorks Jam Sessions (third Thursday, September-June). Located at 149 Kent Street, Ottawa. Provides space for community jazz performances.
- 10,000 Hours Piano Rehearsal StudioscoreVenue for monthly Vocal Open Mics (first Sunday, October-May, 2:00-4:00pm) at 353 Montreal Rd Suite 102, Vanier. Also provides rehearsal studio time as raffle prizes.
- CAMMAC Music CampcoreHost venue for annual Jazz Camp and Composers' Symposium/Practice Retreat at Lac MacDonald in the Laurentians. Provides facilities including private studios, accommodation, and recreational activities.
- Ottawa Jazz FestivalcoreAnnual partnership for joint programming including 'JazzWorks Presents' concert series at National Arts Centre Fourth Stage. Combined events feature both local and international jazz artists.
- National Arts CentremajorPremier performance venue for 'JazzWorks Presents' concerts including the Anke Helfrich Trio performance. Provides access to professional performance space for community jazz education events.
- GigSpace Performance StudiosupportingIntimate listening room providing live-stream passes to intimate jazz concerts as raffle prizes. John Geggie Artist Series featuring Ottawa and Montreal musicians.
- Jazz@248supportingVibrant community space offering jam sessions six nights a week. Provided passes to jazz@248 jam sessions as raffle prizes for 30th Anniversary.
- Ottawa Swing Dance SocietyminorPartner organization providing swing dance events with live jazz bands. Provided tickets to swing dance events as raffle prizes.
- Ottawa Rhythm InitiativeminorOrganization providing tap dance instruction and community building. Donated beginner tap dance course (12-week session, $260 value) as raffle prize.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
JazzWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SFJAZZ: San Francisco-based non-profit jazz organization offering jazz education programs, concerts, and community jam sessions. Comparable as a large-scale community jazz education and performance organization, though significantly larger and more established than JazzWorks.
- Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Canadian arts institution offering intensive music programs including jazz workshops and residencies. Comparable as a Canadian jazz education provider with residential camp-style programming, though at a larger institutional scale than JazzWorks.
- National Music Centre (Studio Bell): Calgary-based Canadian music institution offering music education programs and performances. Comparable as a Canadian non-profit delivering music education and community engagement, though with broader genre focus and larger institutional infrastructure.
- Jazz at Lincoln Center: New York-based major jazz institution providing jazz education, concerts, and artist development. Comparable mission of jazz education and community engagement, but operates at a vastly larger national/international scale with paid professional staff.
Direct peers
- Monterey Jazz Festival: California-based non-profit jazz festival with a strong education component including jazz workshops and school programs. Comparable as a non-profit combining jazz festival programming with year-round jazz education and community outreach initiatives.
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation: Non-profit foundation operating jazz education programs, workshops, and heritage events. Comparable as a non-profit combining jazz education, community programs, and preservation of jazz tradition — similar mission to JazzWorks but with a regional New Orleans focus.
Regional players
- Toronto Jazz Festival: Major Canadian jazz festival presenting concerts and educational events. Comparable as a Canadian jazz presenter serving similar amateur musician and enthusiast communities, though based in Toronto rather than Ottawa.
- Ottawa International Jazz Festival: Ottawa's flagship jazz festival presenting concerts featuring Canadian and international artists. Directly comparable as an Ottawa-based jazz presenter with overlapping audiences and joint programming (JazzWorks Presents concerts).
Emerging players
- Brubeck Institute: Jazz education program based at University of the Pacific offering intensive jazz workshops and scholarships for talented youth. Comparable in providing advanced jazz education and scholarship programs for emerging musicians.
- Humber College Music Program: Canadian college music program offering jazz performance and education degrees. Comparable in delivering jazz education to developing musicians, though as a degree-granting institution rather than a community non-profit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
JazzWorks social profiles
Digital presenceJazzWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JazzWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
JazzWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JazzWorks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about JazzWorks
What does JazzWorks do?
JazzWorks Canada operates a portfolio of accessible jazz music education and performance programs serving adult amateur musicians and talented youth in the Ottawa region. Core deliverables include the annual summer Jazz Camp and Composers' Symposium at CAMMAC, monthly community jam sessions, Vocal Open Mics, the JazzWorks Presents concert series, Jazz in the Schools mentoring, the Ottawa Jazz Happenings community newsletter, and a tiered Friend of JazzWorks membership.
Is JazzWorks a public or private company?
JazzWorks is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was JazzWorks founded?
JazzWorks was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is JazzWorks based?
JazzWorks is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does JazzWorks make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership/Friendship Fees are the primary driver. The others are jazz Camp Registration Fees, event Admission Fees, donations and Fundraising and ottawa Jazz Happenings Newsletter Advertising.
Who are JazzWorks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SFJAZZ, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, National Music Centre (Studio Bell) and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Direct peers are Monterey Jazz Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Regional players are Toronto Jazz Festival and Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Emerging players are Brubeck Institute and Humber College Music Program.
Does JazzWorks have an API?
No public API is recorded for JazzWorks.
What industry is JazzWorks in?
JazzWorks's product category is Music Education and Community Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAE, Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal), with a secondary code of EDAMANAG, Songwriting, Composition & Arranging. Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.