The West Michigan Jazz Society was organized in March 1986 with a stated goal of promoting, preserving, and perpetuating live jazz in our area. The 
Society produces numerous live music events throughout the year, and supports events presented by other arts organizations, schools, and colleges in the West Michigan area. From a nucleus of 20 founding members, our current membership remains steady around 500, including more than 50 LifeMembers.
The organization offers mainly mainstream jazz events, but does not exclude any genre of jazz, including traditional (Dixie) and Latin. Our "Jazz Gumbo's" are held on the third Monday of each month, September thru May (except December), at the Kopper Top Guest House in Grand Rapids (seeLink). Our "Jazz at the Zoo" series consists of weekly live jazz concerts at John Ball Park each Monday from mid-June thru mid-August. We also organize an annual Holiday Dinner Dance in December and an annual "Musician of the Year" banquet in honor of a selected jazz artist in June. All of these events, and many more, are highlighted in our monthly publication, "JazzNotes", which is mailed to ourmembers. Past editions are available for viewing on our web pages.
The Society also organizes free "Jazz in the Schools" programs to introduce students to live jazz, and administers the WMJS JazzScholarship Fund which awards tuition assistance to college-boundstudents for their continued education in jazz studies.
WMJS began honoring our outstanding local musicians beginning in the year 2000, by electing a "Musician of the Year." Our honorees thus far include:
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