Charleston Jazz

What Charleston Jazz does

Charleston Jazz is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts and education organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in North Charleston, SC. It operates three core program lines: the Charleston Jazz Orchestra (CJO), an 18-member big band performing a six-concert subscription season; the Charleston Jazz Academy, which delivers music education through private lessons (priced $156-275/month), combo classes ($340/semester), and summer camps ($275); and the Charleston Jazz Festival, an annual week-long event launched in 2015. The organization also presents the Art of Jazz series at the Gibbes Museum and runs community outreach programs including Jazz Jam, Jazz Day for Kids, Lowcountry Jazz Girls Day, and school-based initiatives.

The business model blends earned revenue and contributed revenue. Ticket sales for paid events range from $10 to $72 per ticket, with performances hosted at the 965-seat Charleston Music Hall. Education tuition, donations and fundraising, and advertising/sponsorship round out the revenue mix. The organization reports annual reach of more than 13,900 people and a newsletter subscriber base exceeding 13,000. Public funding is sourced from the National Endowment for the Arts and the South Carolina Arts Commission, and institutional partnerships extend to the Gibbes Museum, Lowcountry Voices, Gaillard Center, USC Jazz, Charleston Music Hall, Francis Marion Hotel, and MUSC.

Leadership includes Robert Lewis (Director of the CJO), Jack McCray (Co-founder), and Demetrius Doctor (Director of the Academy). The organization has been recognized with the "Best of Charleston 2022" award and a Downbeat feature in 2023. With 18 employees and a fully programmatic operating structure, Charleston Jazz functions as a regional anchor for jazz performance, education, and audience development in the Lowcountry.

Name

Charleston Jazz

Legal name

Charleston Jazz

Website

https://charlestonjazz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Charleston Jazz is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that operates a jazz orchestra, music education academy, and annual festival, serving residents and visitors of the Charleston, SC region through live performance and youth outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Educational & Youth Community Events (School/Youth Festivals) (MPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Live jazz performances
• Music education programs
• Jazz orchestra concerts
• Jazz festival events
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

North Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for Charleston Jazz Orchestra performances, Charleston Jazz Festival events, Art of Jazz series, and special concerts. Tickets range from $10-$72 for individual shows, with Flex Pass options offering 10% discount for 2-5 show packages.
2. Music Education Tuition: Revenue from Charleston Jazz Academy programs including private lessons ($156-$275/month), combo classes ($340 per semester), and summer camps ($275 per camp). Payment plans available (4 installments of $85 for combo classes).
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. Includes annual Charleston Jazz Gala fundraising event and planned giving programs.
4. Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from advertising opportunities in program booklets, email newsletters (13K+ subscribers), pre-show slideshows at Charleston Music Hall, and corporate sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Charleston Jazz presents live jazz performances through its 18-member Charleston Jazz Orchestra (a six-concert season at Charleston Music Hall), the annual Charleston Jazz Festival, and the Art of Jazz series with the Gibbes Museum of Art. It delivers music education through the Charleston Jazz Academy, offering private lessons, combo classes, summer camps, and the Academy Internship. The organization also operates community outreach programs including K-12 school programs, Jazz Day for Kids, Lowcountry Jazz Girls Day, the Melodica Project, and free monthly Jazz Jam sessions.

Product overview

Charleston Jazz operates as a nonprofit arts organization offering a portfolio of jazz performance, education, and community programs. The core offerings include the 18-member Charleston Jazz Orchestra presenting a 6-concert season; the Charleston Jazz Academy providing private lessons, combo classes, and summer camps; the annual Charleston Jazz Festival; and the Art of Jazz Series at the Gibbes Museum. Additional programs include school outreach initiatives, Jazz Jam sessions, Jazz Day for Kids, Jazz Girls Day, and special ensembles such as Momentum. The organization was founded in 2008 and serves over 13,900 people annually through performances, instruction, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charleston Jazz Orchestra An 18-member big band ensemble presenting a 6-concert season each year at Charleston Music Hall, serving over 13,000 patrons annually and featuring international and Grammy-winning guest artists.
• Charleston Jazz Academy The music education division of Charleston Jazz, offering private lessons, combo classes, summer camps, workshops, and internship opportunities for students from beginners to advanced musicians, with instruction from Grammy Award-winning artists.
• Charleston Jazz Festival An annual week-long jazz festival featuring world-class musicians performing across multiple venues in Charleston.
• Art of Jazz Series A three-concert annual series presented in partnership with the Gibbes Museum of Art, featuring original jazz compositions inspired by artwork from the museum's collection.
• School Programs K-12 outreach initiatives including in-school performances, workshops, masterclasses, Jazz Combo instruction at select schools across the Charleston Tri-County area, and the Melodica Project at Angel Oak Elementary School.
• Jazz Pass A program providing free tickets for K-12 students and their families to attend Charleston Jazz Orchestra performances.
• Jazz Jam Monthly jam sessions open to musicians of all ages and skill levels, held at the Charleston Jazz Academy with professional rhythm section accompaniment. Free to attend with donations encouraged.
• Momentum An electric band featuring musicians from the Lowcountry, led by Demetrius Doctor, performing Classic and Contemporary Fusion, R&B, Soul Jazz, and Gospel.
• Jazz Day for Kids An annual interactive concert for kindergarten through middle school students presented in partnership with the Gaillard Center's Education and Community Program, featuring the Charleston Jazz Express led by Maestro Robert Lewis and Grammy-winner Charlton Singleton.
• Lowcountry Jazz Girls Day An annual event in collaboration with the USC Department of Jazz for middle and high school girls featuring masterclasses, performances, and jam sessions.
• Individual Lessons Private music instruction available in 30-minute ($156/month), 45-minute ($220/month), and 60-minute ($275/month) weekly sessions for various instruments and voice.
• Combo Classes Group jazz combo instruction at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels taught in 14-week semesters at $340 per semester (with 4-installment payment plans), with instrumentation including piano, bass, guitar, drums, and horns. Partial or full scholarships are available.
• Summer Music Camps One-week jazz combo camps for young musicians exploring themes such as jazz legends, fusion, and blues forms, held annually in June and July at $275 per camp, with partial or full scholarships available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaching 13,900+ people annually through performances and programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gibbes Museum of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Long-term partnership presenting the annual Art of Jazz series - a three-concert program where jazz musicians compose original works inspired by artwork from the museum's collection. This collaboration between Charleston's premier art museum and jazz presenter creates unique interdisciplinary cultural experiences.
• Lowcountry VoicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with internationally renowned chorus known for harmonious renditions of African-American music including Black gospel, spirituals, and jazz. Ensemble performs with Charleston Jazz Orchestra for special Lowcountry Rhythms concerts celebrating regional heritage.
• Gaillard Center Education and Community ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership presenting Jazz Day for Kids - annual interactive concert featuring Charleston Jazz Express led by Maestro Robert Lewis and Grammy-winner Charlton Singleton. Designed for K-8 students to learn about jazz history while experiencing live music.
• University of South Carolina Department of JazzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on annual Jazz Girls Day event designed to inspire and empower young women through jazz education. Partnership includes outreach efforts, faculty support, and connections to the USC Jazz Festival. Features exclusive partnership with the Marian McPartland Piano Jazz Archive.
• Francis Marion HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial lodging partner for 2026 season, offering Charleston Jazz Package that includes hotel accommodations, cocktails at Swamp Fox Restaurant, and concert tickets. Provides cross-promotional opportunities for reaching visiting patrons.
• Charleston Music HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partnership for Charleston Jazz Orchestra 6-concert season. Historic 965-seat venue (circa 1849 Tower Depot train station) hosts all main orchestra performances with 5PM and 8PM show times.
• Haut Gap Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership providing Jazz Combo instruction at select schools across the Tri-County area, creating opportunities for students who may not otherwise have access to jazz education.
• St. John's High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership providing Jazz Combo instruction, focusing on improvisation, ensemble performance, and foundational music theory.
• Trident AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership providing Jazz Combo instruction for students with limited access to jazz education.
• Angel Oak Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFourth-year partnership teaching 4th and 5th-grade students to play melodica through the Melodica Project, introducing jazz style through hand-held instruments.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Jazz at Lincoln Center: New York-based nonprofit dedicated to jazz performance, education, and preservation — operating a resident big band orchestra, education programs, and a major venue. Closest peer in mission structure: jazz-exclusive nonprofit combining world-class performance with education and community outreach.
• SFJAZZ: San Francisco nonprofit jazz presenter operating a dedicated venue, year-round concerts, and education programs. Highly comparable as a jazz-only nonprofit integrating ticketed performance, education (workshops, classes), and community outreach.
• Monterey Jazz Festival: Long-running nonprofit presenting an annual jazz festival plus year-round education initiatives (Monterey Jazz Festival Clinic, Next Generation Festival). Comparable event-driven nonprofit model with festival + education + outreach.
• Jazz St. Louis: St. Louis nonprofit operating a jazz venue (The Jazz Powered by Chrysler Hall area programming), education programs, and community outreach. Directly comparable as a regional jazz-exclusive nonprofit combining performance and education.
• Detroit Jazz Festival: Free nonprofit jazz festival with educational programming and a resident ensemble; comparable in running a flagship annual jazz festival plus education/outreach as a nonprofit.
• DC Jazz Festival: Nonprofit presenting an annual jazz festival in Washington, D.C. with education and outreach components. Comparable event-driven nonprofit model focused on jazz presentation and community engagement.
• Pittsburgh Jazz: Nonprofit jazz organization presenting concerts, education programs, and community events in Pittsburgh. Comparable regional nonprofit model with performance, education, and outreach.

Regional players

• Savannah Music Festival: Annual multi-genre music festival in nearby Savannah, GA with year-round education programming. Comparable as a Southeastern nonprofit music festival with educational mission, though not jazz-exclusive.
• Spoleto Festival USA: Annual performing arts festival held in Charleston, SC across opera, theater, dance, and music. Comparable as a Charleston-based arts nonprofit competing for the same tourist and local patron discretionary entertainment spend.
• Charleston Symphony Orchestra: Charleston-based professional symphony and education programs (Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra, school programs). Comparable regional performing-arts nonprofit competing for the same patrons, donors, and K-12 partnership slots.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHSJazzAcademy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CharlestonJazz
• Facebookfacebook.com/charlestonjazz
• Instagraminstagram.com/csjjazzacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charleston Jazz