Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Diversity Statement 

“Jazz is a distinct music that depends and thrives on individuality, and yet the individual is not oblivious to others, nor is he immune to their feelings. A session in jazz is comparable to an open forum where theories and opinions are discussed openly and freely.”
- Stan Kenton

Cleveland Jazz Orchestra is an organization of, and for, people who love jazz. We celebrate the diverse origins of jazz, and its heritage of valuing its player and composer based not on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, but on whether they have chops. Furthering our mission to enrich the cultural and intellectual fabric of the communities we serve through jazz, we respect, value and draw upon the diverse experiences and perspectives of our Board, staff, musicians and audiences to preserve and promote jazz in greater Cleveland for generations to come. As such, CJO is committed to modeling diversity and inclusion in the arts, and to fostering and maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.

We strive to:

  • Recognize diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensuring the well-being of our staff, Board Members and performers and the communities we serve.

  • Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our Board, staff, committees, and advisory bodies.

  • Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies and programs.

  • Explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusiveness.

  • Advocate for and support Board-level thinking about how systemic inequities influence our organization’s work, and how best to address that in a way that promotes our mission.

  • Challenge assumptions about what it takes to be a strong leader at our organization, and who is well-positioned to provide leadership.

  • Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions.

  • Lead with respect and tolerance.

Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Disability Accommodation Statement

The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra makes every effort to accommodate the needs of individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities for all its programs. While our performances take place at dozens of different venues, we strive to perform at those that are fully accessible to our audience, artists with disabilities and our own staff. Our current primary performance location at the Maltz Performing Arts Center strives to offer barrier-free access to all performances.

This includes accommodations for wheelchair access and seating, services for those with limited sight and hearing, as well as accommodations for service animals.

Upon request, and with 2 weeks notice, specific accommodations will be made subject to our available resources.

For more information please feel free to Contact Us with any questions.