December Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who came to our Annual Member Meeting in November. We celebrated our triumphs, identified our challenges, and envisioned our future. Here is just some of the accomplishments of 2025 that I shared at the meeting last month:

     • We began the year strong with a Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) funded masterclass by Quentin Walston and his Trio, hosted by Minton's Academy of Music in Ashburn.

      • We sold-out the Old Ox Brewery for a Battle of the Big Bands featuring Franklin Park Big Band, Loudoun Jazz Ensemble, and Swing Shift.

     • We collaborated with JazzWorx Big Band to host a LJS Night at CraftWorx.

     • We expanded our LJS High School Senior Scholarship to include two jazz camp scholarships through the support of the Al Webber Jazz Fund.

     • We presented a second Battle of the Big Bands with four big bands at CraftWorx to our largest audience yet.

     • We hosted 12 jam sessions at The Dell under the musical direction of Matt Trimboli and with the support of Josh Endo and Key Studios.

Loudoun County also saw some national and international jazz acts this year such as Frank Vignola, Tracy Hamlin's Sweet Jazz Festival, and Doreen Ketchens with the Loudoun Symphonic Winds. We also saw the rise of new jazz jam sessions in Herndon, Chantilly, and The Branch in Leesburg. 

That is quite a list! I am sure that there are events I am missing. These are all signs of a healthy jazz scene. None of this could be possible without your investment of time, treasure, and talent. Thank you and here's to an even better year in 2026!

Regards,
John Kocur
President, Loudoun Jazz Society