Vail Jazz
Vail Jazz is a Vail, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that presents the annual Labor Day Weekend Vail Jazz Festival and runs youth jazz education programs including the Vail Jazz Workshop, Vail Jazz Goes to School, and Jammin' Jazz Kids.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersVail, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vail Jazz does
Vail Jazz, formally the Vail Jazz Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Vail, Colorado, that presents jazz performances and runs youth-focused jazz education programs. Its core offerings include the annual three-day Vail Jazz Festival held over Labor Day Weekend, the nine-day Vail Jazz Workshop for 12 high school jazz musicians, the Vail Jazz Goes to School in-classroom program for 4th and 5th graders (operating for 28 years), and Jammin' Jazz Kids for children up to age eight. The organization has built a network of more than 300 Workshop alumni who have contributed to over 100 Grammy-nominated projects, and draws 50,000+ attendees across its nine-week summer festival season.
The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees and runs programming in the Vail Valley and Eagle County, Colorado, with national reach for its Workshop recruitment. Revenue is generated through four streams: ticket sales and event admissions, individual donations (tiered from $1,000 Friend to $100,000 Legendary with escalating benefits), corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Ticket revenue alone does not cover operating costs, and philanthropic support is essential to program delivery. The organization also operates a virtual performance series, Jazz Interludes, to extend its audience beyond Vail's geographic constraints. No proprietary technology platform is developed; Vail Jazz is a service-delivery nonprofit focused on live performance and educational programming.
Key partnerships include Alpine Bank as Presenting Sponsor for Jammin' Jazz Kids and the Tony G Rising Star Awards, accommodation and venue partners Manor Vail Lodge, Tivoli Lodge, and The Hythe Vail, transportation sponsor Epic Mountain Express, and Discover Vail as a legacy tourism partner. Following founder Howard Stone's passing in 2022, Drew Zaremba was appointed as the organization's second artistic director in 2023, and John Clayton continues as Artistic Consultant. The 32nd Annual Vail Jazz Festival is scheduled for September 4-6, 2026.
Vail Jazz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vail Jazz
- Legal name
- Vail Jazz Foundation
- Website
- https://vailjazz.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Vail Jazz is a Vail, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that presents the annual Labor Day Weekend Vail Jazz Festival and runs youth jazz education programs including the Vail Jazz Workshop, Vail Jazz Goes to School, and Jammin' Jazz Kids.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vail Jazz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts and Music Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ)
Keywords
Where Vail Jazz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vail
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vail Jazz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from festival tickets, performance passes, and event admissions for live jazz performances during the annual Vail Jazz Festival and other scheduled concerts.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individual donors supporting jazz education and performance programs. Tiered donor benefits ranging from $1,000 to $100,000+ with escalating perks including advance ticket access, exclusive events, and recognition.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Financial and in-kind support from local and national businesses including accommodation sponsors, transportation providers, and local business sponsors. Sponsors receive brand visibility and event benefits.
- Foundation Grants: Support from granting foundations to fund educational programming and festival operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Friend ($1,000+) - Advance ticket access and program listing |
| Subscription | Annual | Benefactor ($2,500+) - All Friend benefits plus framed poster and donor event |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron ($5,000) - All-Access Patron Pass |
| Subscription | Annual | Director ($10,000) - Two All-Access passes and premium seating |
| Subscription | Annual | Producer ($25,000) - Four passes and reserved seating |
| Subscription | Annual | Virtuoso ($50,000) - Reserved seating and presenter credit |
| Subscription | Annual | Legendary ($100,000) - Gratitude dinner and special jam access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vail Jazz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vail Jazz is a nonprofit arts organization that produces live jazz performances and jazz education programs. Its core offerings include the annual three-day Vail Jazz Festival held over Labor Day Weekend, the nine-day Vail Jazz Workshop for high school musicians, the Vail Jazz Goes to School program for fourth and fifth graders, the Jammin' Jazz Kids program for young children, and the Jazz Interludes virtual performance series. The organization also administers the Tony G Rising Star Award scholarship for Eagle County students.
Product overview
Vail Jazz is a nonprofit jazz organization offering a portfolio of live performance and education programs. The core offerings include the annual Vail Jazz Festival (3-day Labor Day Weekend event), the Vail Jazz Workshop (9-day intensive summer program for high school musicians), Vail Jazz Goes to School (in-classroom education for grades 4-5), and Jammin' Jazz Kids (early childhood music program). The organization also produces virtual performances through its Jazz Interludes series, awards scholarships via the Tony G Rising Star Award, and features the Vail Jazz Alumni Sextet. Programs are designed to perpetuate jazz music with emphasis on young musicians and audiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vail Jazz Festival
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 Workshop alumni with 100+ Grammy nominations contributing to the jazz industry
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Vail Jazz
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Vail Jazz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vail Jazz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Manor Vail LodgecorePrimary accommodation sponsor and festival venue host for the annual Vail Jazz Festival. Provides venue space for performances and serves as a key partner in delivering the festival experience.
- Epic Mountain ExpresssupportingTransportation sponsor providing ground transportation services for festival attendees and artists. Helps ensure accessibility of the Vail Jazz Festival.
- Tivoli LodgesupportingAccommodation sponsor providing lodging support for visiting artists and VIP festival attendees.
- The Hythe VailsupportingAccommodation sponsor supporting the Vail Jazz Festival through lodging partnerships.
- Discover VailcoreLegacy partner and regional tourism organization promoting Vail as a destination. Collaborates on visitor engagement and festival promotion.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vail Jazz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Jazz at Lincoln Center: Major jazz presenting organization founded by Wynton Marsalis, operating year-round programming at Lincoln Center in New York. Operates broadly in jazz performance and education, including the Essentially Ellington high school jazz competition.
Direct peers
- Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival: University of Idaho-based annual jazz festival with intensive student workshop programming. Directly comparable to Vail Jazz's Workshop + Festival model; shares Artistic Consultant John Clayton as Artistic Director.
- Newport Jazz Festival: Iconic annual jazz festival and one of the most prestigious jazz events in the world. Shares Vail Jazz's festival-driven format and brand recognition in the jazz world, though at significantly larger scale and longer history.
- Centrum Jazz Workshop: Centrum's annual jazz workshop in Port Townsend, Washington, providing intensive jazz education to talented young musicians. Directly comparable to Vail Jazz's Workshop and shares Artistic Consultant John Clayton as Artistic Director.
- SFJAZZ: San Francisco-based jazz presenting organization combining year-round concerts with educational programming. Shares Vail Jazz's mission of presenting world-class jazz performances alongside community education.
- Monterey Jazz Festival: Long-running annual jazz festival paired with a comprehensive jazz education program (the Monterey Jazz Festival Clinic) that has mentored high school musicians for decades. Closely comparable to Vail Jazz in combining a marquee annual festival with intensive youth jazz education.
- Brubeck Institute: Jazz education program at University of the Pacific offering intensive fellowships for emerging jazz musicians. Shares Vail Jazz Workshop's intensive mentorship and small-cohort educational model for high-achieving young jazz talent.
- Telluride Jazz Festival: Annual jazz festival in the Colorado mountain town of Telluride with education and community programming. Shares Vail Jazz's intimate-mountain-resort positioning, Colorado geography, and luxury tourism audience.
- Detroit Jazz Festival: Free annual jazz festival combined with year-round education and community programs. Shares Vail Jazz's integration of a major festival with youth jazz education and community outreach.
- Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz: Jazz education nonprofit offering college-level jazz performance and education programs. Shares Vail Jazz's education-focused nonprofit mission and emphasis on mentoring emerging jazz talent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vail Jazz social profiles
Digital presenceVail Jazz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vail Jazz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Vail Jazz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vail Jazz 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 Vail Jazz
What does Vail Jazz do?
Vail Jazz is a nonprofit arts organization that produces live jazz performances and jazz education programs. Its core offerings include the annual three-day Vail Jazz Festival held over Labor Day Weekend, the nine-day Vail Jazz Workshop for high school musicians, the Vail Jazz Goes to School program for fourth and fifth graders, the Jammin' Jazz Kids program for young children, and the Jazz Interludes virtual performance series. The organization also administers the Tony G Rising Star Award scholarship for Eagle County students.
Is Vail Jazz a public or private company?
Vail Jazz is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vail Jazz founded?
Vail Jazz was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Vail Jazz based?
Vail Jazz is headquartered in Vail, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vail Jazz make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, corporate Sponsorships and foundation Grants.
Who are Vail Jazz's main competitors?
Jazz at Lincoln Center is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Centrum Jazz Workshop, SFJAZZ, Monterey Jazz Festival, Brubeck Institute, Telluride Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.
Does Vail Jazz have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vail Jazz.
What industry is Vail Jazz in?
Vail Jazz's product category is Performing Arts and Music Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAJ, Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive). Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 7900.