Women In Jazz Organization intends to help level the playing field in Jazz, so that women and non-binary people have equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to Jazz, leading to an improved and more rich, diverse, and successful art form.
WIJO is committed to honoring Black Americans as the creators of Jazz.
Women In Jazz Organization is an arts non-profit with over 500 professional Jazz Musicians and Composers who identify as Women or Gender Non-Binary. Largely a New York City-based organization, with connections to other individuals and groups nationally and internationally.
Women in Jazz Organization was founded by NYC Saxophonist Roxy Coss, to address many of the issues that Women and Non-Binary people in Jazz are facing on a daily basis. Roxy joined forces with Vocalist Aubrey Johnson to plan WIJO's very first "Monthly Meeting". The meeting was held at the Local 802 Musician's Union in NYC on July 18, 2017, with 12 women in attendance, including WIJO Vice-President Tahira Clayton and Secretary Allegra Levy. Former Leadership and WIJO Team members also include Sirintip (Tippan) Phasuk, Talia Rubenstein and Faith Quashie. WIJO now has grown to include over 500 members, in addition to hosting our yearly cohort of mentees in the WIJO Mentors program.
There is a lack of representation of women and non-binary people in the Jazz world
Women and non-binary people in Jazz face discrimination
Women and non-binary people in Jazz experience harassment, assault, abuse and violence, as well as more subtle oppression
Women and non-binary people in Jazz don’t receive the same opportunities as men do
Women and non-binary people in Jazz don’t have the same community available to them that men do
Empowerment/personal development/learning space/resources
Community building/support group/network & connectivity tool
Outreach programs & mentorship
Social justice/advocacy/action for change; dismantling barriers and inequities in Jazz
Creating more opportunities for members to perform, work, learn, and participate in Jazz
Providing established voice to represent individual women & non-binary people in Jazz
To improve the experiences of women and non-binary people in Jazz
Increase the numbers of women and non binary artist participants in Jazz, as well as the representation and visibility of those artists in the public's view
To build a network of women and non-binary people in Jazz to connect with, share resources with, learn from and empower each other
To strengthen the Jazz community as a whole, and its overall success as an art form
Community Engagement/Education:
WIJO Mentors Program - Young Artist Development and Network
Partnerships with Jazz Girls TX, Key Of She, and more
Concerts & Jam Sessions:
International Women’s Day - WIJO Concert & Jam @ The New School (2024, 2025)
WIJO Mentors Concert and Jam at Soapbox Gallery (2023)
WIJO "Women in Jazz" Jam at NYC Winter JazzFest (2020)
WIJO Mentors Jam at National Jazz Museum in Harlem (2019)
WIJO Jam Session at Kitano Jazz (2018)
International Women’s Day - WIJO Concert @ United Nations International School (2018)
Lioness Concert Series - partnership with Convergence Arts (2018)
Radio and Playlist Curation:
WIJO @ WKCR - live monthly radio programs featuring playlists of member music
Official Apple Music Curator, Playlist curation on Spotify and Soundcloud
Partnership with Jeff Hanley: PRI Jazz After Hours & Jazz Happening Now radio shows
Partnership with Mary Foster Conklin: A Broad Spectrum radio show
Conference Presence:
JEN (Jazz Education Network) Conference (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Jazzahead! (2019)
Key of She (2019)
Activism:
Participation in 2018 NYC Women’s March
Consulting on Gender in Jazz with Institutions
Gender In Jazz Panel Discussions & Lectures
Research & Presentations
Venues including NYC Winter JazzFest, University of North Texas, The New School, Juilliard, Sopot Jazz Festival, University of Manitoba, Georgetown University, and many more...
WIJO Member Promotion & Career Enhancement/Development:
Job Placement, Recommendations, and References for Members
Gig Publicity
Social Media Accounts (FB, Twitter, Instagram)
Gender in Jazz Resource Development: (Please check out what Key of She is doing!)
Educational Code of Conduct
Member Databases: Big Band Musicians; Educators; Discography (COMING SOON!)
Suggested reading lists and listening lists
Master list of Women in Jazz Greats
Member Community Events/Community-Building:
Monthly Meetings
Reading Group
WIJO Member Hangs including local bars, online cocktail hours and zoom chats, remote "Town Hall" meetings, and more
Other Member Services:
Therapy services offered to members in partnership with selected providers , at reduced and sliding-scale cost