Jazz St. Louis
Jazz St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 that operates the Ferring Jazz Bistro venue and presents 270+ live jazz performances annually, serving 46,000 visitors and 500+ subscribers while running education programs that have reached 200,000+ students across 100+ St. Louis-area schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Jazz St. Louis does
Jazz St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1995 in St. Louis, Missouri, dedicated to advancing jazz through live performance, music education, and community engagement. Operating from the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in the Grand Center arts district, the organization runs the Ferring Jazz Bistro — an acoustically distinguished listening room recognized by DownBeat Magazine as one of the world's top jazz venues in 2026 — and the adjacent Nancy's Jazz Lounge operated with food-and-beverage partner Birch Culinary. Each season the organization presents 270+ performances and serves 46,000 annual visitors, anchored by 500+ subscribers to multi-tier season packages (Series 1-3, Coffee Concerts, Choose Your Own) plus single-ticket sales, with current programming focused on its 30th Anniversary Season (September 2025-June 2026).
The organization's product surface extends well beyond the concert series into a vertically integrated education and community platform. Programs include JazzU (scholarship-based combos for middle and high school musicians), Jazz Academy (free middle-school development), Jazz for Our Schools (field-trip programming with transportation support), Artist Residency, the Regional Essentially Ellington Festival co-produced with Jazz at Lincoln Center, and an Elementary Curriculum Partnership (Jazz Concepts for the Young Beginner). Community offerings include Whitaker Jazz Speaks (a foundation-funded lecture series), a monthly Book Club, the Clark Terry Jazz Ambassador Award, Swing for Scholars, and an OLLI/Washington University partnership. A weekly radio program, The Next Set, is co-produced with St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 FM, and a foundation-supported donor recognition society (the Barbara Rose Society) operates with five tiers ranging from $1,500 to $25,000+.
The revenue model blends earned income (subscription and single-ticket sales, gift certificates, ancillary F&B), contributed income (individual giving including the Rhythm Section recurring donor program, corporate sponsorships from organizations such as World Wide Technologies and Ameren, and major-donor recognition through Barbara Rose Society), and institutional grants from arts funders including the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, Whitaker Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, Bayer Fund, Staenberg Family Foundation, and Arthur & Helen Baer Foundation. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors chaired by Robert Steward, employs approximately 18 staff, and is currently operating under Co-Interim Executive Directors Cynthia Danley and Adaron 'Pops' Jackson following Victor Goines' February 2026 departure, with a national executive search underway.
Jazz St. Louis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jazz St. Louis
- Legal name
- Jazz St. Louis
- Website
- https://jazzstl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Jazz St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 that operates the Ferring Jazz Bistro venue and presents 270+ live jazz performances annually, serving 46,000 visitors and 500+ subscribers while running education programs that have reached 200,000+ students across 100+ St. Louis-area schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jazz St. Louis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts / Live Music Venue
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD), Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)
Keywords
Where Jazz St. Louis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Jazz St. Louis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from subscription series packages and single tickets for concerts at the Ferring Jazz Bistro. Includes various pricing tiers based on seating location and performance type.
- Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants supporting programs and operations. Includes The Rhythm Section recurring donor program and Barbara Rose Society major donor recognition.
- Grants: General operating and program support grants from arts foundations including $80,000 from Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis.
- Show Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships of specific performances providing brand exposure to subscriber base of 500+ and 46,000 annual visitors.
- Food and Beverage: Revenue from dining and bar service at concerts operated by Birch Culinary partner.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Series 1 Subscription - 18 shows |
| Subscription | Annual | Series 2 Subscription - 10 shows |
| Subscription | Annual | Series 3 Subscription - 8 shows |
| Subscription | Annual | Coffee Concert Series - 6 matinee shows |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mother's Day Jazz Brunch - $100 per person |
| Subscription | Annual | Barbara Rose Society - Member ($1,500+) |
| Subscription | Annual | Barbara Rose Society - Patron ($2,500+) |
| Subscription | Annual | Barbara Rose Society - Benefactor ($5,000+) |
| Subscription | Annual | Barbara Rose Society - Champion ($10,000+) |
| Subscription | Annual | Barbara Rose Society - Visionary ($25,000+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Valet Parking |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Jazz St. Louis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jazz St. Louis is a nonprofit performing arts organization that presents live jazz concerts at the Ferring Jazz Bistro inside the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in St. Louis, offering subscription concert series and single-ticket performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed jazz artists. The organization complements its performance programming with a robust suite of education programs (JazzU, Jazz Academy, Jazz for Our Schools, Artist Residency, Essentially Ellington, Elementary Curriculum Partnership) and community engagement initiatives serving students, musicians, and audiences.
Product overview
Jazz St. Louis is a nonprofit jazz presenter and performing arts organization operating the Ferring Jazz Bistro as its primary venue within the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in Grand Center, St. Louis. The organization operates as a platform-plus-programs model centered on live jazz performance, complemented by extensive education and community engagement initiatives. The core product is the 30th Anniversary Season Subscription Series (Sept 2025-June 2026), offering 18+ shows through Series 1, 2, 3, Coffee Concerts, and Choose Your Own options. Education programs include JazzU (scholarship-based combos for grades 6-12), Jazz Academy (middle school development), Jazz for Our Schools (field trip program), Artist Residency Program (week-long artist engagements), Regional Essentially Ellington Festival, and Elementary Curriculum Partnership with the Jazz Concepts for the Young Beginner online resource. Community offerings include Whitaker Jazz Speaks Lecture Series, Jazz St. Louis Book Club, The Next Set radio program with St. Louis Public Radio, Clark Terry Jazz Ambassador Award, Swing for Scholars, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute partnership. Special programming includes the Miles in May centennial celebration and Nancy's Jazz Lounge adjacent bar.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ferring Jazz Bistro: The primary performance venue operated by Jazz St. Louis within the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, described as an acoustically exceptional listening room and one of the best in the country.
- Nancy's Jazz Lounge
- JazzU
- Jazz Academy
- Jazz for Our Schools
- Artist Residency Program
- Essentially Ellington Festival
- Whitaker Jazz Speaks
Products and services
- Ferring Jazz Bistro (Concert Venue)
Quantifiable outcome
- 270+ performances annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Jazz St. Louis
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Jazz St. Louis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Jazz St. Louis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Jazz at Lincoln CentercoreCo-produces the Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival in St. Louis. Jazz at Lincoln Center is an internationally acclaimed jazz organization, and this partnership brings their education-focused festival to the St. Louis region with all-star clinician lineup.
- St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU 90.7 FM)corePartnership to produce 'The Next Set: From Jazz St. Louis,' a weekly radio program bringing live jazz performances from the Ferring Jazz Bistro to listeners across the region. Includes artist interviews and airs Fridays and Sundays at 8pm.
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Washington UniversitysupportingCollaborative 8-week course entitled 'Why Jazz Matters' for adults age 50+. Explores jazz music and its role in 20th century history through interactive listening sessions, analysis of compositions, and culminates with a live performance.
- Birch CulinarycoreFood and beverage partner operating the dining service at Ferring Jazz Bistro and Nancy's Jazz Lounge. Provides chef-inspired cuisine, craft cocktails, and full bar service for concert-goers. Nancy's Lounge offers live streaming of shows on 90-inch TV with no cover charge.
- School DistrictscoreDistrict-wide Elementary Curriculum Partnerships focusing on reaching general music teachers and students with Jazz Concepts for the Young Beginner (JCYB) curriculum resources, professional development, and in-school performances.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Jazz St. Louis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jazz at Lincoln Center: The country's most prominent nonprofit jazz presenting and education organization, combining performance (Dizzy's Club, Rose Theater), education, and community programs in a single integrated model — the closest analog to Jazz St. Louis's platform-plus-programs approach, and a direct co-production partner via the Essentially Ellington festival.
- SFJAZZ: San Francisco-based nonprofit that presents jazz performances, runs a major education program, and operates a dedicated jazz venue — virtually the same mission, scale, and revenue model as Jazz St. Louis but anchored in a different metro, making it the single most directly comparable peer.
- Blues Alley: Washington D.C.'s legendary intimate jazz supper club, comparable in offering table-service jazz performances with national headliners — the most direct operating analog to the Ferring Jazz Bistro as an intimate dining-plus-jazz venue.
- Scullers Jazz Club: Boston-area intimate jazz supper club presenting national and international headliners in a dining-plus-jazz format; matches Jazz St. Louis in offering intimate listening-room experiences outside the largest NYC market.
- Smoke Jazz Club: Upper Manhattan jazz supper club presenting resident and touring artists in an intimate listening-room format with table service, structurally similar to the Ferring Jazz Bistro in venue scale and dining-plus-performance model.
- Birdland: One of New York's most iconic jazz clubs, presenting headline national touring jazz artists in a dinner-and-show format that directly parallels the Ferring Jazz Bistro's premium evening programming.
- The Jazz Gallery: NYC-based nonprofit presenter focused on jazz performances plus artist development and education programming; closely mirrors Jazz St. Louis's combination of intimate presenting and community/educational mission, though at a smaller scale.
- The Green Mill: Chicago jazz venue with deep performance history presenting touring and local artists; comparable to Jazz St. Louis in operating an intimate venue with national jazz programming in a Midwestern metropolitan market.
Emerging players
- Monterey Jazz Festival: California-based nonprofit operating one of the country's longest-running jazz festivals plus year-round education programming; shares the nonprofit mission and education emphasis but differs in delivering experiences as a festival rather than a resident venue.
- Jazz Aspen Snowmass: Nonprofit jazz presenter combining festivals, education, and community programming in a regional market, structurally parallel to Jazz St. Louis but primarily festival-driven rather than venue-anchored.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jazz St. Louis social profiles
Digital presenceJazz St. Louis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jazz St. Louis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Jazz St. Louis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jazz St. Louis 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 Jazz St. Louis
What does Jazz St. Louis do?
Jazz St. Louis is a nonprofit performing arts organization that presents live jazz concerts at the Ferring Jazz Bistro inside the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in St. Louis, offering subscription concert series and single-ticket performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed jazz artists. The organization complements its performance programming with a robust suite of education programs (JazzU, Jazz Academy, Jazz for Our Schools, Artist Residency, Essentially Ellington, Elementary Curriculum Partnership) and community engagement initiatives serving students, musicians, and audiences.
Is Jazz St. Louis a public or private company?
Jazz St. Louis is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Jazz St. Louis founded?
Jazz St. Louis was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Jazz St. Louis based?
Jazz St. Louis is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jazz St. Louis make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Giving, grants, show Sponsorships and food and Beverage.
Who are Jazz St. Louis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jazz at Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, Blues Alley, Scullers Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery and The Green Mill. Emerging players are Monterey Jazz Festival and Jazz Aspen Snowmass.
Does Jazz St. Louis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jazz St. Louis.
What industry is Jazz St. Louis in?
Jazz St. Louis's product category is Performing Arts / Live Music Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAIAB, Live Music Clubs & Venues, with a secondary code of EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir). Its NAICS code is 711130 and its SIC code is 7900.