Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra

Mission

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra's mission is to nurture the musical, educational and artistic growth of individual musicians, to encourage women and girls to become involved in jazz performance/composition as a career or avocation, and to foster community interest in and appreciation of jazz as an art form.

Description

Since its founding in 2000, the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra has had a unique role in the robust Puget Sound music community. SWOJO celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2025. 

SWOJO was founded to encourage women and girls to become involved in jazz performance and composition as a career or avocation, to develop the musical, educational and artistic growth of individual musicians, and to foster appreciation of jazz as an art form. SWOJO has become a dynamic force for jazz in the Pacific Northwest. It has performed at clubs, jazz festivals and concert halls on two continents. Your generous gift will enable SWOJO to continue to offer the highest-quality jazz performances while serving as excellent musician role models for girls and young women. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at our concerts and as participants in our outreach projects in 2026 and beyond!

SWOJO proudly features the contemporary, original music of regional and international women composers and arrangers including Jill Townsend, Ann Reynolds, Leigh Pilzer, Christine Jensen, Megan Vinther, Annie Booth, Jessie Smith and Nelda Swigget. SWOJO has performed with many female jazz artists including Dee Daniels, Grace Kelly, Mimi Fox, Christine Jensen, Jill Townsend, Sherrie Maricle, Greta Matassa, Sheryl Bailey, Ingrid Jensen and many others. SWOJO has performed at Benaroya Hall, the Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival, Seattle Jazz Vespers, The Triple Door, Bumbershoot, Festival Jazz en Lima (Peru) and others.

SWOJO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization.

Released CDs on OA2 Records, Dreamcatcher (2004) and Meeting of the Waters (2007).