Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

What Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra does

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (WJO) is a community-based, registered Canadian charity and non-profit professional jazz orchestra founded in 1997 by Dr. Richard Gillis and Sasha Boychouk in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It operates Canada's first community-based non-profit professional jazz orchestra, delivering a 7-concert annual season at venues including Desautels Concert Hall, CCFM, and West End Cultural Centre, complemented by summer outdoor patio concerts at Le Patio 340 and a recurring St. James Infirmary Blues fundraiser. The WJO produces and sells recordings (8 albums to date, including the Juno Award-winning 'Connections: East Meets West' in 2025) and runs an education arm comprising Big Band Workshops, Honour Jazz Bands (60 emerging musicians annually), WJEC Summer Jazz Camps, the 2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop, Play-Along Charts, and Jazz Skills Videos.

The organization's core technology is live big-band jazz performance and composition, anchored by a library of over 100 commissioned works from Canadian and Manitoban composers — a unique repertoire asset. The business model relies on a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue: season subscriptions and single ticket sales (Full Season $266 Adult, Four-Concert $164, Flex-Pass $264; outdoor concerts $10-$20), school subscriptions (40% discounted at $105-$210), CD/streaming sales, corporate sponsorships and concert-program advertising, individual donations (including to a 2025 endowment fund at the Winnipeg Foundation with Canada Cultural Investment Fund matching), and multi-source government/foundation grants (Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Winnipeg Foundation, SOCAN, FACTOR, Manitoba Film and Music). Over 80% of income is directed to musicians and performance expenses.

Distribution and audience development occur through the Arts People online ticketing platform, a phone/email box office, invoice-based school sales, CD sales at concerts and via Bandcamp/streaming, and marketing via email newsletters, Facebook/Twitter, radio partnerships (Classic 107, CJNU), volunteer word-of-mouth, and PR coverage. Customers are segmented into jazz patrons (season subscribers and single-ticket buyers), student musicians and schools (the primary education market), and corporate sponsors. The WJO is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Lucas Sader and managed by General Manager Joan Gillis and Artistic Director Dr. Richard Gillis, with the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba serving as Honorary Patron.

Name

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

Legal name

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

Website

https://winnipegjazzorchestra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is a community-based, non-profit professional big-band jazz orchestra founded in 1997 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, delivering a 7-concert annual season, recordings, and jazz education programs for patrons, students, and schools across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Arranging & Orchestration (MPAIAHAG), Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Live jazz performances
• Big band concerts
• Jazz music education
• Jazz orchestra recordings
• Community arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Subscriptions: Primary revenue stream from season subscriptions (Full Season, Four-Concert, Flex-Pass packages) and single concert ticket sales for the 7-concert annual season.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Charitable donations from patrons and sponsorships from local businesses, with over 80% of income going to musicians and performance expenses. Endowment fund at Winnipeg Foundation provides ongoing stability.
3. CD Sales: Sales of recorded albums including 'Voices', 'Twisting Ways', 'Suite 150', 'Suite Messiah', 'Steppin' Out', and musician CDs. Available for purchase online and at concerts.
4. School Subscriptions: Heavily discounted school subscriptions at 40% off single ticket pricing, enabling student attendance at live performances.
5. Government Grants: Ongoing support from Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Winnipeg Foundation, and other granting bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra presents a 7-concert annual big band jazz season in Winnipeg, complemented by outdoor summer patio concerts, special fundraisers, and an active jazz education program for students. It also produces and sells original album recordings featuring commissioned Canadian jazz compositions, with eight albums released to date including a Juno Award winner.

Product overview

The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra operates as a community-based, non-profit professional jazz orchestra offering a portfolio of products centered on live big band jazz performances and music education. The core product is the Season Concert Series (7 annual concerts spanning October through May), complemented by outdoor summer patio concerts and special fundraisers. The WJO produces and sells recordings (CDs) featuring original Canadian compositions and arrangements, with eight albums to date including a Juno Award winner. Education offerings include Big Band Workshops for schools, Honour Jazz Bands for student musicians, Summer Jazz Camps, Play-Along Charts, Jazz Skills Videos, and a Composers Workshop. Ticket products include Full Season, Four-Concert, and Flex-Pass subscriptions, plus discounted School Subscriptions for educational groups. The organization connects audiences to big band jazz through live performances, recordings, and educational outreach, functioning as a cultural institution rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Season Concert Series The WJO's primary offering: a regular concert series featuring big band jazz performances, with the 2026-2027 season including 7 main concerts spanning October 2026 through May 2027. Audience: individual jazz patrons and season subscribers in Winnipeg.
• WJO CDs and Recordings Album releases featuring original compositions and arrangements by Canadian jazz composers, sold as physical CDs at concerts and online, and distributed through streaming platforms including Bandcamp. Audience: jazz listeners and collectors globally.
• Big Band Workshops Half-day workshops for school jazz bands held mid-October and mid-November where WJO musicians teach, encourage, and inspire student musicians. Audience: Manitoba school jazz bands and music teachers.
• WJO Honour Jazz Bands Three-level honor program (Junior, Intermediate, Senior) for students up to grade 12 involving 2-3 days of workshops and rehearsals, culminating in a performance at the TD Jazz Winnipeg Festival. Audience: student jazz musicians up to grade 12 in Manitoba.
• WJEC Summer Jazz Camps Annual summer jazz education program held in August, culminating in a free public concert. Audience: student musicians attending summer jazz camps.
• 2026 Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop Workshop program for developing jazz composers in Canada. Audience: emerging Canadian jazz composers.
• Serie Estivale De Concerts (Summer Outdoor Series) Outdoor Sunday evening concerts at Le Patio 340 featuring local and regional jazz musicians in a casual patio setting. Audience: general public and families.
• St. James Infirmary Blues Fundraiser Annual New Orleans-inspired big band fundraiser held at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre featuring WJO musicians performing traditional funeral dirges through the audience. Audience: patrons and donors.
• Season Subscription Packages Subscription packages for the 7-concert season: Full Season, Four-Concert, and Flex-Pass (6 tickets to divide as desired), offering up to 20% savings over casual ticket prices. Audience: individual subscribers and students under 30.
• School Subscriptions Discounted 40% off single ticket pricing for school groups attending the full 7-concert season; available via invoice-based ordering through the box office. Audience: Manitoba schools and student groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25 seasons of continuous operation as Canada's first community-based non-profit professional jazz orchestra
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Manitoba Arts CouncilcoreOthersGovernment arts funding body providing ongoing operational and project grants to support WJO concerts, education programs, and recording projects.
• Winnipeg Arts CouncilcoreOthersMunicipal arts council providing funding support for WJO operations and special projects.
• Canada Council for the ArtscoreOthersNational arts funding body supporting WJO through project grants for recordings and special initiatives, including matching endowment incentives.
• Winnipeg FoundationcoreOthersCommunity foundation administering the WJO Endowment Fund with matching funds; annual interest revenue contributes to WJO stability and sustainability.
• SOCAN FoundationsupportingOthersMusic creators' rights organization providing funding support for WJO projects.
• FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings)supportingOthersRecording industry fund providing support for WJO album production and release.
• Manitoba Film and MusicsupportingOthersProvincial music and film development agency supporting WJO recording projects.
• Chronograph RecordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecord label partnership for album releases including Tidal Currents and Connections; provides recording, mixing, and distribution support.
• Jazz Winnipeg FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual jazz festival hosting the WJO Honour Jazz Band final concert performances; collaboration on youth jazz programming.
• Desautels Faculty of Music, University of ManitobasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic music department collaboration for education programs, student workshops, and venue partnerships at Desautels Concert Hall.
• Long & McQuade Musical InstrumentssupportingOthersMusic retailer and education sponsor providing instrument support, workshops, and guitar/bass/ukulele instruction referrals.
• Neil Bardal Funeral CentresupportingOthersSpecial event partner hosting the annual St. James Infirmary Blues fundraiser; unique venue partnership for New Orleans-inspired concerts.
• Frontera WinessupportingOthersWinery providing wine selection and service for the St. James Infirmary Blues fundraiser event.
• Assiniboine Credit UnionsupportingOthersConcert sponsor supporting WJO performance events.
• Classic 107 and CJNU RadiosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal jazz radio stations providing promotional support and radio sponsorship for WJO concerts and events.
• True GenerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCongolese band collaboration for 'Kwassa Kwassa: Music and Dance of the Congo' concert event.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vancouver International Jazz Festival (Coastal Jazz and Blues Society): Major Canadian non-profit jazz presenter operating the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Comparable as a Canadian jazz organization producing annual concert seasons, commissioning Canadian artists, and running education programs in a similar structure to WJO.
• Festival International de Jazz de Montréal: The world's largest jazz festival, presented by a Canadian non-profit. Comparable as a Canadian jazz presenting organization combining ticketed concerts, education initiatives, and artist development, operating at much larger scale but with similar mission.
• Toronto Jazz Festival: Major Canadian jazz festival presenting live concerts and educational programming across multiple jazz sub-genres. Comparable as a Canadian non-profit jazz organization combining ticketed concerts, education outreach, and artist commissioning in a similar model to WJO.
• Jazz Winnipeg Festival: Annual jazz festival in Winnipeg that is an explicit WJO partner and host of the WJO Honour Jazz Bands final concert. Comparable as a community-focused Canadian non-profit jazz presenter producing concerts and youth programming in the same local market.
• The Count Basie Orchestra: Long-running professional big band jazz orchestra that tours, records, and runs educational outreach. Closely comparable to WJO as a performing big band jazz orchestra producing live concerts, recorded albums, and student engagement programming.

Broad incumbents

• Jazz at Lincoln Center: Major US-based jazz institution producing concerts, education programming, and commissioning new works at significantly larger scale. Comparable in mission (preserving and advancing jazz through performance, education, and commissioning) and in operating a resident big band ensemble analogous to WJO.
• Carnegie Hall: Iconic US performing arts presenter producing orchestral, jazz, and popular concerts plus extensive education programs. Comparable as a presenting organization offering season subscriptions, school programs, and educational outreach in a similar multi-revenue model.
• National Arts Centre (Canada): Canada's national performing arts centre, federally funded and presenting orchestral concerts and education programming nationally. Comparable as a Canadian performing arts presenter with similar mandate to commission Canadian works, support national touring, and run youth education programs.
• Smithsonian Jazz: National jazz education and performance program under the Smithsonian, producing concerts, oral histories, and instructional programming. Comparable in combining concert production with jazz education at a much larger institutional scale than WJO.

Others

• Canadian Music Centre: Canadian national service organization promoting works by Canadian composers and performers. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem organization that supports the same Canadian repertoire agenda that underpins WJO's 100+ commissioned composition strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winnipeg-jazz-orchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra