Our History
The CWJC was formed in January 2023, specifically for the Girls in Jazz Workshop put together by the Women Band Directors International - Alberta Chapter. The workshop was a huge success and included an all-women staff working with 98 women and girls ranging in age from 11 to 80+, all coming together to play and learn more about jazz
Directed by Kathie Van Lare, a long-time music educator in the Calgary area, the band comprised of many of the finest women instrumental musicians in Calgary and beyond. Their first concert in January 2023 at the National Music Centre was sold-out and featured special guest artists Christine and Ingrid Jensen. It sounded so amazing and so much fun was had by everyone involved that the band is now ongoing as the Calgary Women's Jazz Collective.
As our Girl's in Jazz Workshop and Gala grow annually, the collective has had the opportunity to perform with trombonist Audrey Ochoa and bassist Jodi Proznick in winter 2024 and with trumpeter Rachel Therrien and saxophonist Tara Davidson in winter 2025. Trombonist Karin Hammar was also our guest artist in spring 2025 in conjunction with JazzYYC.
Objectives
To advance the public’s appreciation of the arts by:
01
Showcasing
the work of women jazz performers, composers, and arrangers in an effort to create more gender diversity on public jazz stages.
02
Fostering and nurturing
opportunities for women musicians of all ages in our community and beyond through educational outreach clinics, workshops and public performance experiences.
03
Sharing
the performance and creation of jazz music with all people irrespective of culture, race, sexuality, ability, language or gender by providing high quality public performances with a focus on music created by women and providing free performances for audiences that may not be able to attend regular performances.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA)
As we work towards our objectives of expanding comfortable spaces for women and girls in jazz music, we will strive to provide performance and educational experiences that are inclusive and accessible for those with marginalized identities and the intersections at which they may live, in keeping with the spirit of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.