Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz

Jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger Ron Waters was in the forefront of the Central Pennsylvania jazz scene since the 1950’s.  After graduating from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Waters joined the Army and served as dance band director of the 427th Army Band in Europe. After returning from Europe, he led his own quintet and worked with a popular East Coast jazz ensemble, Marge and the Majors.  Mr. Waters organized and conducted the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz Youth Band in 1983 and served as its director for almost 40 years until his death in 2022 at the age of 87.  He is a member of the Friends of Jazz Hall of Fame and was a wonderful mentor to hundreds of aspiring jazz musicians.  

The CPFJ Youth Band is on hiatus now while we look for a new director.  Part of the scholarship money was used to offer a college scholarship to promising members of the Youth Band.  

Now the scholarship fund supports young musicians' attendance to the Central Pennsylvania Jazz Camp, held every June at Messiah College.

Each year, we host the Ron Waters Scholarship Party to raise money for the scholarship fund. The Party features performances by Youth Band Alumni, and many area musicians.