THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good. Community Champion of the Week: Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance In 1997, an idea was initiated: to bring world-class jazz to Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) while keeping its rich traditions alive. Spearheaded by acclaimed award-winning musician Marko Marcinko, the PA Jazz Alliance (PAJA) was born, creating a vital avenue for world-renowned artists to perform across the region and beyond. To ensure that jazz thrives for generations to come, PAJA launched its educational arm, the PA Jazz Institute (PAJI). For three decades, PAJI has committed to cultivating the next generation of talent through master classes, private instruction, summer workshops, and the annual PAJA Music Camp. Specializing in Jazz, Blues, and World-Beat music, these programs provide students with hands-on experience and expert mentorship. Today, PAJI alumni have gone on to attend prestigious institutions like the University of Miami, Westchester University, Berklee College of Music, and the Juilliard School. This powerful blend of professionals and rising stars naturally brought the Scranton Jazz Festival to life in 2005. Designed as a weekend for the community to "Meet, Greet, and Play," the festival has spent over twenty years hosting Grammy Award winning, legendary jazz luminaries such as: Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Will Lee, Dave Liebman, Bob Dorough, Dave Samuels, Freddie Cole, Tierney Sutton, Tower of Power, The Yellowjackets, Spyro Gyra, The Manhattan Transfer, The Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band, Steve Smith & Vital Information, and many more. None of this would exist without Marko Marcinko. A versatile freelance musician/ educator and entrepreneur, Marko has spent his career performing, touring, and PUAZZ MU DATES JULY 27-31, 2026 DAYTIME SCHEDUL 10-4 CONCERT ON FRI, JULY 31 3PM LOCATION THE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS OF For more info and to register pajazzinstitute.com recording as a drummer, pianist, composer, arranger, and producer. Recently welcomed as the Director of Music Performance at Misericordia University, Marko has brought the PAJA vision full circle. Misericordia now hosts the PAJA Music Camp, which celebrated its largest class in 2025 with over thirty students from five NEPA counties. The jazz impact culminates every summer. The Scranton Jazz Festival has brought thousands of visitors to the downtown, boosting the local economy as music flows through over twenty-five businesses, restaurants, bars, and hotels. Best of all, the majority of the performances are free, with ticketed events priced affordably for everyone. Want to experience it for yourself? Head to downtown Scranton, August 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2026 to "Meet, Greet, and Play" with the PAJA. Visit pajazzalliance.com or pajazzinstitute.com to learn more about their upcoming events and programs! Working together makes our community stronger. If you have a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond, please call us at the Luzerne Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information. Do you want to make our community better? So do we. Let's do it together. Because of you and for you, we are... Here for good. THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST. WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065 THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good . Community Champion of the Week : Pennsylvania Jazz Alliance In 1997 , an idea was initiated : to bring world - class jazz to Northeastern Pennsylvania ( NEPA ) while keeping its rich traditions alive . Spearheaded by acclaimed award - winning musician Marko Marcinko , the PA Jazz Alliance ( PAJA ) was born , creating a vital avenue for world - renowned artists to perform across the region and beyond . To ensure that jazz thrives for generations to come , PAJA launched its educational arm , the PA Jazz Institute ( PAJI ) . For three decades , PAJI has committed to cultivating the next generation of talent through master classes , private instruction , summer workshops , and the annual PAJA Music Camp . Specializing in Jazz , Blues , and World - Beat music , these programs provide students with hands - on experience and expert mentorship . Today , PAJI alumni have gone on to attend prestigious institutions like the University of Miami , Westchester University , Berklee College of Music , and the Juilliard School . This powerful blend of professionals and rising stars naturally brought the Scranton Jazz Festival to life in 2005. Designed as a weekend for the community to " Meet , Greet , and Play , " the festival has spent over twenty years hosting Grammy Award winning , legendary jazz luminaries such as : Clark Terry , Phil Woods , Jimmy Heath , Randy Brecker , Mike Stern , Will Lee , Dave Liebman , Bob Dorough , Dave Samuels , Freddie Cole , Tierney Sutton , Tower of Power , The Yellowjackets , Spyro Gyra , The Manhattan Transfer , The Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band , Steve Smith & Vital Information , and many more . None of this would exist without Marko Marcinko . A versatile freelance musician / educator and entrepreneur , Marko has spent his career performing , touring , and PUAZZ MU DATES JULY 27-31 , 2026 DAYTIME SCHEDUL 10-4 CONCERT ON FRI , JULY 31 3PM LOCATION THE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS OF For more info and to register pajazzinstitute.com recording as a drummer , pianist , composer , arranger , and producer . Recently welcomed as the Director of Music Performance at Misericordia University , Marko has brought the PAJA vision full circle . Misericordia now hosts the PAJA Music Camp , which celebrated its largest class in 2025 with over thirty students from five NEPA counties . The jazz impact culminates every summer . The Scranton Jazz Festival has brought thousands of visitors to the downtown , boosting the local economy as music flows through over twenty - five businesses , restaurants , bars , and hotels . Best of all , the majority of the performances are free , with ticketed events priced affordably for everyone . Want to experience it for yourself ? Head to downtown Scranton , August 7th , 8th , and 9th , 2026 to " Meet , Greet , and Play " with the PAJA . Visit pajazzalliance.com or pajazzinstitute.com to learn more about their upcoming events and programs ! Working together makes our community stronger . If you have a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond , please call us at the Luzerne Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information . Do you want to make our community better ? So do we . Let's do it together . Because of you and for you , we are ... Here for good . THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST . WILKES - BARRE , PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065