Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts
The Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts (CCJA) is a nonprofit organization established in 2002, dedicated to jazz education and youth mentorship. Founded by Paul and Christine Romaine as a partnership in late 1999, it initially served six students through weekly small-group sessions guided by professional jazz mentors.

In 2003, CCJA formalized as a Colorado nonprofit, receiving 501(c)(3) status in 2004. Its programs expanded across Colorado's Front Range, including Denver, Boulder County, and Fort Collins. The organization’s Small Group Program remains central, pairing students with mentors to develop improvisational and ensemble skills. Over two decades, CCJA has engaged thousands of youths, many of whom pursued careers in jazz or deepened their appreciation for the art form.

Under Paul Romaine’s artistic direction, CCJA introduced initiatives like Kinderbop, a music education project for elementary students funded by the Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Grant. The organization also produces performances and recordings, such as Fourteen Channels, featuring collaborative works by 17 young musicians.

Paul Romaine, a University of Colorado at Boulder faculty member, received a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Recognition Award for his contributions. CCJA operates as a medium-sized arts nonprofit, emphasizing creative expression and community engagement through jazz.

[1] https://www.jazzarts.org/about [2] https://www.jazzarts.org [3] https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/CCJA [4] https://mvdshop.com/collections/all/products/colorado-conservatory-for-the-jazz-arts-fourteen-channels-cd [5] https://greatnonprofits.org/org/colorado-conservatory-for-the-jazz-arts