About Monterey Jazz

Founded in 1958 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit education organization, Monterey Jazz has been committed to celebrating America’s creativity and cultural heritage by presenting legendary jazz musicians, composers, and young rising stars.

Mission, Vision and Values

Mission
Our mission is to inspire the discovery and celebration of jazz, anchored by an iconic festival.

Vision
We envision a sustainable organization that sets the standard of excellence for jazz, connects a diverse community, and helps people appreciate and learn about jazz as fans and performers.

Jazz sits within American culture as a singular and distinctive art form. It has been created by, perpetuated by, and anchored in Black voices and culture. Read our DEI Statement

Our Leadership

Our leadership team invests thousands of hours every year ensuring that our education programs are a success and our festival is an event you want to return to year after year.

Learn More

Google

Monterey Jazz Festival is an unforgettable meeting place, where we can not only uplift communities of color, but also learn from their experiences through culture and music. From Google leadership to HBCU students, we broke bread through an authentic appreciation for what we can learn from one another.

– Maria Medrano,
Global Diversity, Narrative & Public Policy

Our History

‘Timeless since 1958’ is more than just a tagline at Monterey Jazz. The number of jazz greats that have graced the stage in our storied 67-year history is awe inspiring.

Take a Look Back

Our Partners

For more information about becoming a partner of the 68th annual Monterey Jazz Festival, contact Administrative Assistant, Caroline Ganos at

[email protected] or 831.373.3366.

Our Festival Partners

Our Education Partners

Timeless Since 1958

For over 65 years, Monterey Jazz has been committed to celebrating America’s creativity and cultural heritage by presenting legendary jazz musicians, timeless composers, and young rising stars.