Founded by Charles Fishman in 2005 with the mission to establish and present an annual jazz festival in the District of Columbia, the DC Jazz Festival, widely recognized as the fastest-growing jazz festival in the U.S., is one of the largest and most diverse music festivals in the country. Kicking off the summer in the nation's capital June 24 – 29, the 2014 DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) attracts jazz lovers from around the world to Washington DC each year to see performances in some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including the Hamilton Live, and the Howard Theatre, among nearly 60 venues. The Festival also presents year-round jazz education programs and concerts for DC students and residents withlocal, national and internationallyacclaimed artists at venues across DC In addition, the Festival’s mission includes promoting music integration in school curricula, and supporting outreach to expand and diversify the audience of jazz enthusiasts. DCJF has experienced spectacular year-by-year growth, and is set to celebrate its landmark 10th anniversary this year. The 2014 Festival will feature world-renowned artists including Gregory Porter, Trombone Shorty Cyrus Chestnut, The Robert Glasper Experience, The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, Snarky Puppy and The Brass-A-Holics, among numerous other outstanding artists.