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Supporting artists and expanding access through year-round programs

Montavilla Jazz presents year-round programs that support artists and connect students and audiences through performance, education, and creative collaboration. These programs extend beyond the festival, creating opportunities for learning, new work, and meaningful engagement throughout the year.
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Program Impact

  • 500+
    Students Served Annually

    K–12 students engaged through programs
  • 40+
    In-School Artist Visits

    Artist-led sessions in local schools
  • 3
    Core Programs

    Education, performance, and artist development

They provide meaningful opportunities for artists to develop and present their work.

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Darrell Grant Jazz Pianist & Composer; Professor of Music, Portland State University

This is more than a music program—it is a powerful, community-centered initiative that supports our students’ sense of identity, belonging, and possibility.

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Sabrina Flamoe Principal, Vestal Elementary School

The teaching artists Montavilla Jazz has brought in have had an immense impact on me and my students.

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Jacob Soto Band Director, Mt. Tabor Middle School
I love how the Montavilla Jazz Artist-in-Residence program includes history and contextualization of the importance and influence of jazz!
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Raúl Gómez Music Director, Metropolitan Youth Symphony

Ongoing Programs

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In-School Artist Residency at Vestal Elementary

Montavilla Jazz partners with Vestal Elementary to provide an in-school artist residency serving K–5 students. Teaching artists lead weekly sessions that explore jazz through rhythm, movement, and cultural storytelling, building students’ musical skills, confidence, and connection to their own creative voice. This program is supported by an Arts Learning Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and Regional Arts & Culture Council.

  • Weekly in-school artist residency
  • Serves K–5 students at Vestal Elementary
  • Culminates in a student performance at Social Justice Night

 

Mt. Tabor Middle School Jazz Program

Montavilla Jazz partners with Mt. Tabor Middle School to support a comprehensive in-school jazz program serving band students throughout the school year. Led by teaching artist Quinn Walker, the program includes in-class instruction and an after-school jazz club, providing students with consistent mentorship, ensemble experience, and opportunities to perform. This program is supported by the Robert D. and Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust and the Autzen Foundation.

  • In-school jazz instruction integrated into band classes
  • After-school jazz club with performance opportunities
  • Serves ~180 band students and ~30 club participants
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Behind the Scene with Christopher Brown Quartet

Behind the Scene is a monthly educational performance program for high school students, led by the Christopher Brown Quartet. Students attend live performances paired with guided discussion, gaining insight into the creative process, improvisation, and the experience of working musicians. This program is supported by a generous gift from the Roumpf-Powell Charitable Fund.

  • Monthly live performance and learning experience
  • Held at The 1905 for high school students
  • Combines concert performance with artist discussion

Upcoming Programs and Events

Sidney Porter Legacy Project

 

A collaborative initiative to honor Sidney Porter’s legacy, build awareness of Portland’s jazz history, and raise support for youth jazz education programs in the region.

Past Programs

Call + Response 2021

Call + Response paired three local jazz artists with three local filmmakers to create original short works of art, music, and film. Presented by Montavilla Jazz in 2021, the project invited each filmmaker to respond visually to newly composed and recorded music. This project was funded by Oregon Cultural Trust.

Vestal Storytelling Project 2022

The Vestal Storytelling Project expanded Vestal Elementary’s annual Social Justice Night through a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz and PSU’s Artist as Citizen Initiative. Centered on community diversity and family identity, the project brought together students, artists, and neighbors through storytelling, live performance, and shared creative work. This project was supported by Metro’s Community Placemaking grant.

Views of an Urban Volcano 2023

Views of an Urban Volcano was a collaborative project between Montavilla Jazz and Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble that brought community history, public dialogue, and new music together around Mt. Tabor Park. The project culminated in a free outdoor concert at the 2023 Montavilla Jazz Festival featuring three world premieres by local artists. This project was supported by Oregon Cultural Trust and the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

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Come for the tunes

A full weekend of local legends and new voices filling the streets of Montavilla with the kind of fresh, original jazz only Portland could dream up. Discover the lineup and secure your tickets.

Montavilla Jazz Festival

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Play a part

Montavilla Jazz Festival is a neighborhood effort with a wider circle around it. That’s where you come in. Volunteer, sponsor, or partner with us to shape the weekend from the inside out.

Ways to get involved

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Support the scene

Your contributions help us invest in homegrown artists, expand free programming, and keep Montavilla Jazz Festival open to the entire community.

Make a contribution
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