When Berks Jazz Fest was founded as a project of the Berks Arts Council, It began with a clear yet modest purpose: to celebrate, preserve, and promote the art of jazz in Berks County.
At the time, jazz in the region had experienced a long period of decline following its vibrant heyday in the 1940s and 1950s. The fest was created to reignite interest in the genre, reconnect the community with its rich musical heritage, and provide new opportunities for artists and audiences alike.
Launched in March 1991 as a three-day event, the fest quickly gained momentum and enthusiasm.
Over the years, it has expanded into a dynamic 10-day celebration featuring an extensive lineup of concerts, educational programs, workshops, jam sessions, and special events.
The test proudly represents every subgenre of jazz, from traditional and swing to bebop, fusion, contemporary, and beyond.
Performances and events have been hosted in a wide range of venues, including Santander Performing Arts Center, DoubleTree by Hilton Reading, Scottish Rite Cathedral, Miller Center for the Arts, and numerous intimate settings throughout the community that bring artists and audiences closer together.
Since its inception, Berks Jazz Fest has grown significantly in both scope and reputation. It is now widely recognized as one of the premier jazz festivals in the nation.
Beyond offering outstanding performance opportunities, the fest serves as a creative hub where musicians can collaborate in thoughtfully curated events, explore new artistic directions, and engage in meaningful mentorship with students and emerging artists. This commitment to education and artistic exchange has become a defining hallmark of the test.
The success and longevity of the fest have been made possible by the unwavering support of the local business community, arts organizations, dedicated volunteers, sponsors, and patrons. Their continued generosity and commitment have helped the fest flourish year after year.
In turn, the fest has delivered lasting benefits to the community, contributing significantly to the cultural landscape through arts and education, while also generating meaningful economic impact for the region.
Now, with pride and gratitude, the community comes together to celebrate a major milestone: the 35th annual Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest this March.
cultural impact
In October 1985, the late Reading saxophonist Frankie Scott reflectedon the vibrant jazz scene that once thrived along Penn Street during the 1950s. As he recalled the clubs, musicians, and sense of community that defined that era, he shook his head sadly and observed: "There's not much of a jazz community here, even though lots of great musicians have come out of Reading."
His words captured both the pride of a rich musical legacy and the disappointment of seeing that tradition fade from the local landscape.
In the decades since that reflection, the jazz community in Berks has experienced a remarkable resurgence. Today, thanks to the efforts of Berks Jazz Fest and Berks Arts, jazz performances are available throughout the year, offering consistent opportunities for audiences to engage with the music and for musicians to perform, collaborate, and grow. What was once a sporadic presence has become a vibrant and sustained part of the region's cultural life.
The fest's influence has extended well beyond its annual spring celebration. It has given rise to signature Berks Arts events such as the annual Holiday Concert and Reading Blues Fest, further expanding the reach of jazz and related genres while attracting diverse audiences.
In addition, jazz presentations now take place regularly in clubs and restaurants across the area, as well as at established cultural and educational institutions, including the WCR Center for the Arts, the Yocum Institute for Arts Education's Jazz on the Avenue series, and school and college auditoriums throughout the region.
Berks Jazz Fest has created performance opportunities with the broader cultural community, including the Reading Pops Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Reading Choral Society, and Berks Sinfonietta, making its debut this year - contributing to cross-genre collaborations and reinforcing the role of jazz as an integral part of the area's artistic ecosystem.
economic impact
Each year, Berks Jazz Fest delivers significant and consistent economic benefits to Berks County and its business community, including hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and local service providers.
The fest attracts an estimated 30,000 visitors annually traveling from 30-plus states and overseas, many of whom stay for multiple days to attend concerts and related events.
For 25 of its 35 years, the fest has operated as a 10-day event, creating an extended period of economic activity and sustained visitor spending.
On average, fest-related tourism generates approximately $8-$10 million each year for the local economy. Over the life of the fest, this represents an estimated $250 to $300 million in total economic impact.
Beyond the financial benefit, the fest encourages repeat visitation, as jazz fans return each year to experience the diverse dining options, accommodations, retail offerings, and cultural attractions — while enjoying performances by world-class jazz artists alongside outstanding
local musicians.
educational impact
For more than three decades, Berks Jazz Fest has played a transformative role in strengthening music education throughout Berks County and the surrounding region.
At the heart of this impact is the fest’s GETJAZZED educational initiative, which is designed to connect students and educators with jazz as a living, evolving, and culturally significant art form.
Through GETJAZZED, the fest delivers meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages and skill levels. These programs provide direct access to professional jazz musicians through school visits, workshops, master classes, clinics, student performances, and interactive presentations. By bringing jazz history, improvisation, and performance practices into classrooms and rehearsal spaces, GETJAZZED helps students experience the art form not just as listeners, but as active participants.
For many students, GETJAZZED offers a first opportunity to engage with professional artists in an educational setting. These encounters broaden musical perspectives, spark curiosity, and often inspire continued participation in school music programs, community ensembles, and post-secondary studies in music and the arts.
GETJAZZED also serves as an essential resource for music educators across the region. By supporting curricular goals and providing real-world musical context, the initiative enhances classroom instruction while increasing student engagement and motivation.
Teachers benefit from professional development opportunities, exposure to current performance practices, and access to artists who can reinforce instructional concepts in meaningful and memorable ways.
By cultivating partnerships among schools, community music organizations, colleges, and cultural institutions, the fest and its GETJAZZED programs have established a sustainable and inclusive educational ecosystem. This collaborative approach ensures that jazz education remains accessible, relevant, and deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the region.
Through GETJAZZED, Berks Jazz Fest continues to build a lasting educational legacy—one that nurtures creativity, curiosity, and excellence while inspiring the next generation of musicians, educators, and engaged community members.
inspire | Engage | UNITE
Berks Arts produces and presents Berks Jazz Fest, overseeing festival planning, artist coordination, venues, and community partnerships to bring world-class jazz to the region. Through this work, Berks Arts continues to celebrate, preserve, and promote the art of jazz in Berks County. For questions, or additional imformation please contact Berks Arts at info@berksarts.org or through our Contact link at the top of this page.
For more information about how you can be a part of the fest as a Sponsor, please click the button below.