Clearwater Jazz Holiday’s Steve Weinberger: Beyond the big stage

Steve Weinberger was just a young lawyer when he was invited to join the board of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation (CJHF) in 2001. What started as an opportunity to meet new people and network evolved into a “passion project,” and, ultimately, a new career when he became the foundation’s CEO in 2015. This is Weinberger’s 10th year leading the nonprofit, which presents the popular waterfront jazz festival of the same name every fall and offers robust music outreach and education programs throughout the year. 

Weinberger, a self-described “music enthusiast” who grew up with a jazz aficionado father, doesn’t play music or sing. But for him, creating these live, shared music experiences for the community is just as thrilling as being on a stage. 

“Since I became the CEO, my focus was to develop our own programs that could have an even bigger impact and provide really special opportunities for young people in our community around music and inspiring them to make music a part of their life, and once they have, helping them with instructional and performance opportunities,” he says. “And, we’ve done that in a big way, and it’s growing and growing, and I’m really proud of it.”

The foundation brings musicians and live performances to schools through programs such as “My Journey with Jazz” and “History of Jazz.” The latter program has reached more than 34,000 students in approximately 60 Tampa Bay area schools, and grown to include organizations that work with seniors; students in underrepresented communities; and people of all ages with special needs, neurodiversities, and autism. Through its “Give Them a Stage” and “CJH Young Lions Jazz Master Sessions” programs, the foundation gives young musicians unique opportunities to perform together with local and visiting musicians in front of an audience. Another foundation program, CJH Presents, is a monthly music series featuring intimate performances in unique venues across Pinellas County. Since October 2020, CJH Presents has provided a stage to approximately 130 bands/ensembles over 75 events.

In 2012, after decades of being free, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday became a ticketed event, adding a new stream of revenue to support the organization. The proceeds go towards planning the annual festival and supporting the foundation’s education and community programs and initiatives. Weinberger says the move to charge admission was significant to the nonprofit’s growth. The organization was able to expand the quantity and diversity of its programming, which helped attract a wider, more diverse audience who are now aware of — and connect to — the foundation’s mission. 

“I think more and more attendees are beginning to understand that when they attend, they are supporting something that’s much bigger than just the four-day festival event,” Weinberger says. “It’s the year round cultural impact of music education and outreach…and there’s so many beautiful things about that.”

Some of those benefits include gaining experience and getting exposure at the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday, which can accommodate up to 6,000 attendees a day. This year’s festival is coming up  Oct. 16-19 at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater, and features national headliners such as Trombone Shorty (returning for a fifth time), Trampled By Turtles, and The War and Treaty as well as a mix of established and emerging musicians from the Tampa Bay region. 

From 4:30 – 6 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, the festival kicks off with a “CJH Young Lions Legacy Jam, Past and Present.” The CJH Youth All-Star Jazz Band will perform Saturday, from 3:45-5:00 p.m. On Sunday, the youth musicians return from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for CJH Young Lions Jam. 

This year, the music festival returns to the sweeping, waterfront green space in downtown Clearwater for the first time since 2019. The all volunteer-driven event is run by the foundation’s 25-member board of directors and its longstanding volunteer committee called the “jazz force,” which manages over 1,000 community volunteers for the event. Weinberger said the festival has a special appeal because it’s an event  for the community, by the community and holds lots of traditions and memories for many, from first dates to marriage proposals to reunions of family and friends — all basking in the sounds of jazz on blankets, lawn chairs, and reserved seats with the park’s picturesque waterfront view.

“I think it really has grown into not only a signature event for Pinellas County, but really the Greater Tampa Bay area. It’s a true jazz fest with very diverse programming that brings a very big cultural and economic impact to the area,” Weinberger said proudly. “It attracts a lot of people that drive in or even fly in, and make it a destination. And that’s really important. It’s 46 years this year of bringing that experience.”

The 46th Clearwater Jazz Holiday is Oct. 16-19, 2025 at Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater.

For more information, go to Clearwater Jazz Holiday