Passionate about their vision of creating unique jazz program for teens, Paul and Christine Romaine founded CCJA in late 1999 as a partnership. Six students registered for the first small group session, where they met weekly during the school year and played and performed in a small jazz group under the guidance of a professional jazz musician mentor. The program continued to grow, and in March of 2003, CCJA became a Colorado non-profit, and in early 2004 was granted 501(c)(3) status. The original “Small Group Program” has expanded to several locations across the Front Range including Denver – where CCJA is headquartered –  Boulder County, and Fort Collins. Today, CCJA serves over 100 students in its programs throughout the academic year and in the summer and in the 20 years since its inception, CCJA has served several thousand teenagers, many of whom have gone on to forge successful careers as jazz artists or carry a deep appreciate for jazz with them into adulthood.