2025 Festival | August 22, 23, 24
25th Anniversary | Esther Short Park | Vancouver, WAshington, USA
Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival
CLICK below to see
the 2024 program!
Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival—A History of Success
NOTE: After being cancelled for 2 years due to COVID, the Festival returned in 2022. In 2024, visitors traveled from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington; and from 127 cities greater than 50 miles RT from Vancouver. A remarkable statistic and proof that people need music and the arts in their lives.
The Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival was founded by Artistic Director Michael Kissinger. A professional classical and jazz clarinetist, conductor, composer, and producer, Dr. Kissinger produced his first show when he was 16, a concert featuring the legendary jazz clarinetist Woody Herman and The Thundering Herd. While performing in the orchestra of the Spoleto Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy, he envisioned creating a music and arts Festival in the U.S. See: www.michaelkissingermusic.com and www.bravoconcerts.com
The First Annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival took place September 26-27, 1998, after nearly a year of planning. The Festival premiered to huge weekend crowds and by all measures was an enormous success. The first Festival was held on the site of the former Lucky Lager Brewery in downtown Vancouver. International jazz star and vocalist Dianne Schuur entertained a huge Saturday night crowd. 21 wineries, 6 restaurants and 40 fine artists participated.
Media estimates that 6-8,000 people attend the annual festival each year. Visitors from 30 states, Europe, China, Japan and Canada have attended, and more than 150,000 people have attended and participated since its inception.
Every year the Festival features visual artists, hundreds of wines, local restaurants and numerous commercial exhibitors. In 24 years, the Festival has presented such internationally acclaimed jazz artists including: Al Jarreau, Allen Toussaint, Arturo Sandoval, Bela Fleck, BeauSoleil, Bill Frisell, Billy Childs, Blind Boys of Alabama, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bo Diddley, Booker T. Jones, Bobby Shew, Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Claudia Villela Coco Montoya, David Sanborn, Diane Schuur, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Don McLean, Dr. John, Eddie Palmieri, Ed Shaughnessy, Ernie Watts, Family Stone, Four Freshmen, Grace Kelly, James Cotton, Jane Monheit, Jean-Luc Ponty, Joey DeFrancesco, John Hammond, John Mayall, John Pizzarelli, Johnny A, Jose Feliciano, Judy Collins, Kenny Loggins, Lavay Smith, Lee Ritenour, Los Lobos, Manhattan Transfer, Marcia Ball, Mavis Staples, Melissa Manchester, Nicholas Payton, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Poncho Sanchez, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ramsey Lewis, Regina Carter, Rita Coolidge, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Russell Malone, Ruthie Foster, Sara Gazarek, Shemekia Copeland, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Spyro Gyra, Stanley Clarke, Stanley Jordan, Take 6, The Gospel Hummingbirds, The Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band, The 5th Dimension, The Rippingtons, The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, The Temptations, The Yellowjackets, Toshiko Akiyoshi, WAR and others; as well as more than 100 local and regional jazz bands. The Festival is a program of Bravo! Concerts Northwest, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization.
What is the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival?
The Festival is the #1 Cultural Tourism event in Southwest WA and is “…the largest jazz festival of its kind in the Northwest…” (ABC TV KATU 2 Portland, OR). Since 1998 visitors from 30 states, Canada, China, Europe, and Japan have attended. The Festival is an annual program of Bravo! Concerts Northwest.
- Performing & Cultural Arts: The Festival is a celebration of the musical, visual, performing, and enological arts and brings together GRAMMY-winning internationally acclaimed musicians, regional jazz, blues, gospel, and other bands, Northwest wines, fine artists, and local cuisine.
- Cultural Tourism: The Festival draws thousands of visitors to Vancouver. Ticket sales show that visitors from 30 US states, Canada, China, Europe and Japan have attended the Festival. 68% of the audience is out-of-town visitors.
- Identity & Image: The Festival is a world-class event. The vision and image of the Festival reflects the image and lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest – a beautiful region and a great place to live, work and visit!
- Awards:
- 2024 Grant Recipient, Paul G. Allen ArtsFund Foundation
- Awarded 2023 "Event of the Year" for Southwest Washington by the Washington Festivals & Events Association
- Awarded “Outstanding Tourism Event” by Clark County.
Festival Leadership
* = Founding Member
Dr. Maria Manzo, Festival Director*
Dr. Michael Kissinger, Founder & Artistic Director*
Management Team
Christopher Alexander | Director of Festival Security*
Mark Babilon | Director of Operations & Special Projects
Mary Braut | VIP Front Gate Manager
Davor Braut | I.T. Director & Assistant Stage Manager
Anna Collins | Front Gate Manager
Chef Gordon Graham | VIP Chef & Catering Manager
Tim Hagan | Bravo! Concerts Northwest Advisory Board
Sylvia Howes | Business Manager
David Kirchner | Senior Stage Manager
Heidi Kohn | Assistant Stage Manager
David Martel | Setup Coordinator
Jamie Montgomery | Assistant Front Gate Manager
Emily Nelson | Bravo! Concerts Northwest Manager
Mary Peters | Volunteer Manager
Jeremy Robb | Festival Security Manager
Richard Runabear | Poster Distribution
Fred Schaich | Poster Distribution
National Team
Brandon Buth | Ft. Lauderdale Office, East Coast Promotions
Frank Escudero | Chicago Office. Assistant to the Festival Director
Marion Woyvodich | Seattle Office, VIP Sponsor Liaison
Jenny Woyvodich | Seattle Office, VIP Sponsor Liaison
Volunteers
More than 150 community volunteers work to bring the Festival to our community each year.
Emeritus Team
Nancy Bowen-Hicks, Art & Exhibitor Manager (Emeritus)
Faye Driscoll, Front Gate Manager (Emeritus)
Ron Driscoll, Operations Manager (Emeritus)
Lt. Cmdr. Rick Knapp, Stage Manager (Emeritus)
Dan Meyer, Director of Operations & Founding Member (Emeritus)*
Emeritus Team In Memoriam+
+ Dirk Fournier, CEO, Fournier Group (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Fr. Kenneth Haydock, Priest, Friend, Supporter (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Howard Hedinger, Philanthropist, Supporter, & Donor (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Jesse Kissinger, Supporter & Donor (Emeritus in Memoriam)*
+ Andy Lakey, Catering Manager (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Sylvia Nancy Manzo, Bravo! Concerts Northwest Promotion Manager (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Fr. Joseph O'Shea, Priest, Friend, Volunteer Extraordinaire (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Marge Martel, Business Manager (Emeritus in Memoriam)*
+ Larry Richardson, Long-time Volunteer (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Craig Stein, CEO & Founder, Craig Stein Beverage, Supporter (Emeritus in Memoriam)*
+ Mike Wilson, Philanthropy & Donor Manager (Emeritus in Memoriam)
+ Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. ~Amen~ Requiem aeternam. "Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing. In ALL circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do NOT quench the spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-19