Executive Director's Message

The Jazz Arts Group is one of those things that makes people very excited about being "from" Columbus. More and more individuals are finding entertainment here that they did not know existed -- and have brought a new audience to reveal their discovery. The message is also reaching audiences and organizations from outside Columbus -- JAG and the CJO have received grant and foundation support, as well as financial assistance from corporations and individuals that we have never heard from before. Both the National Endowment for the Arts and The Aaron Copland Fund have recently recognized JAG for artistic programming and innovative infrastructure by providing project and operating support.

The next two years will bring many new initiatives, including collaborations, projects, recordings and many other important contributions to our cultural scene. Please help us in any way that you can: through financial support, by bringing a new audience member to a show, by spreading the word about all that we do, and, perhaps most importantly, by bringing a young person to our concerts. No matter if it is a child, grandchild, neighbor or friend...the future audience for jazz must be developed to support a lively and diverse culture in our city, and for the continued vitality at both our big band and small group jazz performances.

Please feel free to stop by our offices, at 939 North High Street, located in one of the new developments in the exciting Short North district. Parking and access to our offices has improved, and we invite you to stop by any time to visit or, better yet, to purchase more tickets!

Robert Breithaupt, Executive Director

Robert Breithaupt enjoys one of America's most diverse musical careers.

While leading the Jazz Arts Group (JAG) as Executive Director since 2001, Breithaupt has also served as the drummer of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra since 1980. As a consultant and speaker, he promotes the organizational structure of JAG, one of America's leading non-for-profit jazz organizations, as a model to be replicated by other communities.

As a drummer, he has appeared with a virtual "Who's Who" of great jazz talents, including a roster as diverse as Benny Carter, Terry Gibbs, John Pizzarelli and Monty Alexander, and regularly performs with many of the nation's finest orchestras along with trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling and Broadway star Sandy Duncan.

Breithaupt is an endorser and consultant for the Yamaha Corporation, the Sabian, Ltd., Innovative Percussion, and Remo, Inc. As a businessman, Breithaupt was one of the founders of Columbus Pro Percussion, Inc., and served as co-owner and vice-president for twenty-five years.

Breithaupt is considered one of the nation's leaders in percussion education. He is Professor of Music and Department Chair of Music Business & Industry Studies at Capital University. Since 1978 has developed one of the most recognized undergraduate percussion programs in the United States, producing students that are successful in performing, teaching and the music industry. He is the co-director of the Summer Drum Set Workshops, the author of the textbook, The Complete Percussionist, the DVD entitled Snare Drum Basics, and presents and is features in clinics and seminars worldwide. He is also a past-president of the Percussive Arts Society, the international society for drummers and percussionists.

The recipient of numerous honors and awards, he was awarded Bowling Green State University's Outstanding Graduate Award, participated as a fellow in the Jefferson Academy for Leadership and Governance, was a participant in the prestigious Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders in the Arts, a joint program of National Arts Strategies and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and currently serves as the chair of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium.