Our Mission Statement

The Queen City Jazz Foundation has as its mission the preservation of Traditional Jazz through education, including awarding of scholarships to jazz scholars and performers, establishment of a jazz camp, and dissemination of jazz arrangements for jazz bands.

The ACJF Trad Jazz Scholarship 

The Queen City Jazz Foundation has as part of its mission the preservation of Traditional Jazz through education. The members of the Board of Directors feel strongly that one way to do this is to support students of traditional jazz at the college level. One activitiy of the QCJF has been the establishment of a scholarship for this purpose.

The scholarship is presented to a college student who demonstrates ability in the area of Traditional Jazz Performance, and who demonstrates need for monetary assistance.

Applicants to date have been students from regional colleges and universities who have been interested in being involved in the University of Colorado at Denver traditional jazz program. (They do not need to be students enrolled at UCD to participate).

The UCD Trad Jazz program, begun in 1980, consists of the annual formation of a trad band (the current group is called "The Claim Jumpers"). Participants in the band are instrumentalists and vocalists who have demonstrated a proficiency in their area of musical study and on their particular instrument, and who can contribute to and benefit from the ensemble performance opportunities this band experience offers.

Leadership is a main criterion for the scholarship. The recipients of the QCJ Foundation scholarship have been the leaders chosen by fellow students.

The student who is awarded the scholarship is expected to participate for the full year in the traditional jazz program at UCD, as a member of the band. The recipient is also expected to maintain a grade-point average which will keep him/her in school for the year. The scholarship recipient is expected to appear at the QCJF annual concert to be recognized from the stage. The scholarship is currently equivalent to one-half of the annual tuition at UCD.

Recipients of the Queen City Jazz Foundation Scholarship

1999-2000 J.T. Nolan and Matt Zlaten 2000-2001 Katie Glassman 2001-2002 Steve Illich 2002-2003 Joel Van Horne 2003-2004 Bridget Law 2004-2005 Michael Cryer 2005-2006 Brad Jones 2006-2007 Ryan Speights 2007-2008 Mike Smith

Programs for Schools

The foundation sponsors concerts at public and private schools, usually with matching funds provided by the host school. Traditional jazz bands are brought to the school with informative progams about the history and social origins of jazz. Performances by members of the Queen City Jazz Band and other area musicians round out the presentations.

Jazz Clinics and Educational Programs Presented in Colorado by the Queen City Jazz Foundation School City/District:

Contributions

The Queen City Jazz Foundation is supported by revenue from concerts and by contributions from individuals. The QCJF is a 501c3 foundation and contributions to the QCJF are deductible under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service.

To contribute to the foundation, mail your check payable to QCJF to Hank Troy, 4628 South Newton Street, Denver, CO 80236.

You will promptly receive a letter by U.S. Mail acknowledging your contribution.