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In Jazz, Everyone’s Voice Counts

Sometimes you stand out, and sometimes you help the person next to you say something great. When everyone does their part—when everyone is in the groove—beautiful things happen. Give today and you make possible:

  • Life-affirming music education for about 1,000 young people
  • $110,000+ scholarship support for young people who need it most
  • Performances by artists you want to see, attracting total attendance of 10,000+
  • Fair compensation for more than one hundred dedicated teaching artists
  • Fellowships for eight emerging jazz educators
  • Dozens of free events that unite and uplift our community

We love our musicians—from the student just picking up an instrument to the legend gracing our stage. We’re good at what we do. And we rely on you.

When you make a gift to SJW, you become part of the SJW Groovement: a group committed to a groove that reverberates throughout the Bay Area—and beyond. Donate so much as a dollar, and you are in.

Join or renew today to be a part of a passionate community dedicated to providing life-affirming musical experiences for artists, learners, and audiences.

As a valued part of the SJW Groovement, you gain insider access to everything we do. Read on for full details.

Donate Online
Other Ways to Donate

Join

Every cent counts. Join the SJW Groovement to receive valuable benefits that will help you get the most out of your time with us.

Soloist

$1-$149

  • Special message from our students and artists

Arranger

$150-$349

Receive all Soloist benefits plus:

  • Early access to tickets
  • Discount Festival ticket prices
  • Opportunity to purchase tickets to members-only experiences
  • Recognition in donor listings

Collaborator

$350-$749

Receive all Arranger benefits plus:

  • No-fee ticket exchange
  • Complimentary tickets (2) to Jazz Inside Out during the Festival*
  • Complimentary tickets (4) to Early Bird Jazz for Kids during the Festival*
  • Guided tour of summer camps

* Send requests to [email protected]

Bandleader

$750-$1,499

Receive all Collaborator benefits plus:

  • Complimentary tickets (2) to any Festival show at Dinkelspiel Auditorium*
  • Complimentary tickets (2) to a year-round performance or listening party
  • Recognition as an after-school big band champion
  • Invitations to after-school big band events

*Send requests to [email protected]

Lead

Lead the SJW Groovement to keep the music playing today—and tomorrow.

Headliner

$1,500+

Receive all Bandleader benefits plus:

  • First access to tickets
  • Concierge ticket service
  • Complimentary wine prior to select Festival shows
  • Festival experiences with artists
  • Reserved seating at Festival shows in Campbell Recital Hall
  • Invitation to fall and spring house concerts
  • Opportunity to hire a student combo (additional cost)

Headliner Recognition Options

Let us celebrate what is important to you. Receive recognition for your commitment to:

  • Student performance $2,500+
  • Teaching artist $3,500+
  • Student scholarship $4,000+
  • Festival performance $6,000+
  • Mentor Fellow $10,000+ over two years
  • 2025 Festival Season $15,000+

Headliner Customized Benefits

Headliners of $2,500+ receive additional customized benefits, which can include:

  • Sponsorship recognition
  • Personal meetings
  • All-access pass
  • Audit select summer camp special presentations
  • Unique tokens of appreciation
  • Invitation to a leadership event

Looking for something specific? We will work with you to create designations and benefits that reflect your interests. For more information, contact Mark Hernandez at [email protected]

In their own words

SJW an excellent atmosphere where the kids could interact with the professionals.

We were the very fortunate recipients of generous financial aid, without which our son could not have attended. This was the first time he went to a music camp, and we are all so happy he did. Thank you!

Best experience imaginable. It far exceeded our expectations. Our daughter can’t wait for next year.

Thank you for offering this program, and helping my daughter grow in her confidence and her music abilities.

First thing he said when he got home was he wants to go back next summer and he wish he could go for two weeks next year.

SJW is an amazing and one-of-a-kind program.

SJW has inspired our girls to pursue their music through jazz bands, orchestra, pep bands, chamber groups, and musical theater. Thank you so much.

After the second day of camp, my daughter said ‘It’s getting easier.’ She described how jazz is different from classical music and how much she enjoys playing jazz with a group. And, of course, the concert on the final day was amazing!

My daughter said all the teachers are amazing, super supportive of students learning jazz for the first time.

She said it was awesome that the teachers appreciated how courageous the students were to try jazz for the first time.

The entire experience was wonderful! She had a great time learning music and making new friends. Thank you!

I wish it was longer than one week. I’d have my son in for the whole summer if possible!

Every time my son finished his rehearsal, he would tell me all about it with excitement.

I was impressed with everything from the communication, the level of professionalism, the enthusiasm, the ratio of coaches to students, the quality of the instruction, and that the students had fun and grew as musicians.

My daughter said she would never forget the performance. (Nor will I.)

I also loved the performance — the kids sounded terrific and they all looked intensely excited to be part of it.

At the end of each class, he was always upbeat and excited about all that he learned. And he said that the teachers were so nice and supportive, and that everyone just wanted to him to succeed.

The staff made all that hard work exciting and fun for the kids. I saw the last ten minutes of a couple of sessions and loved the energy, passion, and enthusiasm.

The staff had high standards for the kids, but did not make it grim. It was obvious that everyone was having fun. And, they sounded amazing!

Giant Steps had a profound impact on my daughter. It changed the way she saw herself.

She went in as a trumpet player in her middle school band and came out thinking of herself as a nascent jazz musician. Her playing and musicianship improved tremendously. Her love of playing jazz trumpet also grew.

Those 10 weeks stretched him as a musician and gave him a huge boost in confidence. He is now a freshman at Menlo-Atherton High, and he and a bunch of his friends in Intermediate Jazz Band have set up their own quintet and are working together on music selection, arrangement, rehearsals etc.

It surpassed our expectations in all respects. Thank you!

Giant Steps was a life-changing experience for my daughter. It empowered her and showed her what was possible if she challenged herself and continued to play jazz trumpet.

My favorite thing? Direct one-on-one teaching, exactly where I need to be taught and challenged in my artistic endeavors.

It’s an amazing opportunity to study from the greats, in a place where inspiration and electricity abound.

The total-immersion program of playing, listening, and learning has inspired me to continue making my own music until I can return to SJW next year.

I had no idea about the level of inspiration I would get, or the number of things it is now clear I need to work on.

This week has been an incredible learning opportunity for me as a student, and I can’t wait to apply all that I’ve learned here in my outside musical career. The level of skill and growth I attained this week is priceless. I love the Stanford Jazz Workshop.

My highlight was seeing my shy daughter perform her first public jazz solo and do an amazing job.

While here, my knowledge of theory, technique and musicianship improved immensely. I never thought I could learn what I did or do what I have achieved.

What makes the SJW community so special is that it creates an environment in which artists can readily share music and educational ideas with each other, with students, and with concert audiences. This interaction between people of different generations and backgrounds is so much of what jazz has always been about.

I wish the SJW Jazz Camp was longer than one week. I’d have my son in for the whole summer if possible!

All week I was able to interact with some of my greatest musical heroes and learn from their expertise. The master classes with Jason Moran, Joshua Redman, Mark Turner and Jeff Ballard changed the way I think about the music.

Simply put, Stanford Jazz Workshop changed my life that first summer.

When we picked our son up, he said ‘I was among giants’ and was very excited by the professional level of the musicians he met during the week.

You’ve got 200 eager kids there, and you’ve got your friends there who are also musicians. Every single year the Stanford Jazz Festival date is my favorite gig.