About ColaJAZZ

MISSION

The ColaJazz Foundation is dedicated to growing, supporting and promoting jazz in the Midlands through events, education, recordings, resources and advocacy in order to create a thriving culturally rich community.

VISION

We aim to be the driving beat in jazz education, performance and outreach providing opportunities for all from the musician to the student to the audience. We strive to serve our community, create cultural enrichment and make our capital city a premiere jazz destination in the southeast.

OUR VALUES

  • INTEGRITY

    We infuse every action and decision with honesty, fairness, and respect for our community, audiences and musicians. We inspire trust by matching our behavior to our words.  We do the right thing - even when no one is watching.

  • EMPOWERMENT

    We champion artists by providing opportunity, access, and platforms through which they can share, create, innovate, and thrive. We are committed to supporting and empowering artistic growth and appreciation in individuals and audiences.

  • CREATIVITY

    We believe creativity unites and inspires. As cultural leaders, we engage in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to our community. We know that creativity comes from everyone and anyone and we provide safe spaces for artists to communicate their ideas through the language of music.

  • EDUCATION

    We're dedicated to the transformative power of music education. We educate about jazz in order to positively impact and enrich the lives of young people and audiences of all ages. This access and exposure can transform not only lives but entire communities.

  • INCLUSIVE

    We value equity, participation, and dignity for all. We respect and seek out diversity, authenticity, and the inclusion of differences in both our programming and organization. We work to provide access, opportunity, and advancement to underserved and underrepresented populations in the arts.

DESIGN & STRUCTURE

ColaJazz Foundation, a 2021 Governor’s Award-winning nonprofit, enriches the cultural fabric of South Carolina, making our capital city a premier jazz destination.

We connect world-renowned jazz educators and performers with students and the public, creating diverse, engaging experiences.

Our annual season includes the ColaJazz Summer Camp, ColaJazz Fest, SC Public Radio shows, after-school programs, Jazz for Young People concerts, Great Day in Columbia, Live in the Lobby at the Koger Center, monthly Dinner & Jazz concerts, ColaJazz Crawls, International Jazz Day events, and virtual performances—bringing people from across the state to enjoy our vibrant city.

We provide access to world-class musicians, nurture local talent, and invest in the future to ensure jazz thrives in Columbia. Our community includes musicians, educators, patrons, students, and anyone who supports jazz and Columbia’s cultural growth.

ColaJazz is committed to preserving jazz, a symbol of American culture that teaches perseverance, creativity, collaboration, and respect for tradition while embracing innovation. Jazz unites people and celebrates individuality.

HISTORY

Since 2015, ColaJazz has worked to make Columbia, SC, a premier jazz destination.

Founder and Executive Director Mark Rapp aimed to spotlight the city's talented jazz artists and educators while giving back to the fans, venues, and supporters. Mark’s efforts began with the release of *ColaJazz Vol 1* and a full-length album by the late SC Jazz Ambassador Skipp Pearson, both gaining national attention through AAA Magazine.

In 2018, ColaJazz secured fiscal sponsorship from the Columbia Music Festival Association, one of the city's oldest arts nonprofits. After five years of community-building, ColaJazz became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, solidifying its mission to serve the jazz community.

Under Mark Rapp’s leadership, recognized as one of *Columbia Business Monthly’s* 50 Most Influential People in 2023 alongside the Mayor of Columbia and the president of the University of South Carolina, ColaJazz has expanded its impact. ColaJazz offers year-round educational and performance opportunities and has earned awards and honorable mentions in the *Free Times* and *The State’s* Best of polls for leadership and festivals.


ColaJazz hosts an annual summer jazz camp, jazz festival, jam sessions, and performances featuring international jazz stars, NEA Jazz Masters, and GRAMMY-winners. In 2021, ColaJazz was honored with the Governor’s Award for the Arts, South Carolina’s highest recognition for contributions to the arts.

LEADERSHIP

Led by Founder and Executive Director Mark Rapp, our leadership is dedicated to growing jazz audiences through performances, education, and community events.

Mark Rapp, South Carolina's Jazz Ambassador and the 2020 Experience Columbia Ambassador, hails from Florence, SC. He earned a Bachelor's in Music Performance from Winthrop University and a Master’s in Jazz from the University of New Orleans. Mark’s jazz career has taken him from New Orleans and New York to stages across Europe and beyond. He’s played sold-out shows at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the legendary Blue Note in Greenwich Village, with performances in Switzerland, Croatia, France, and cities like Boston, Washington, and San Francisco. He's shared the stage with jazz greats like Branford Marsalis, Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Delfeayo Marsalis, as well as South Carolina’s own Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker, and Edwin McCain.

Mark Rapp has released eight diverse albums and appears as a sideman on numerous projects, including Disney’s “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” (Vol I & II), alongside jazz legends like Roy Hargrove, Dave Brubeck, and Esperanza Spalding. His 2009 debut, “Token Tales”, earned him recognition as a "Top Emerging Trumpeter" by Downbeat Magazine. Featured in Mellen Press’ “How Jazz Trumpeters Understand Their Music”, Rapp is in esteemed company with artists like Terence Blanchard and Freddie Hubbard. He also composed and produced the jazz ballet “Woven: Life in Notes and Steps”. Rapp has performed globally, from Croatia to Brazil, including back-to-back appearances at the 2017 and 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.


Bringing his global experience back to South Carolina, Mark founded ColaJazz to unify the state’s jazz scene and elevate its presence. With a mission to make jazz accessible and engaging, he has worked tirelessly to create opportunities for both musicians and audiences, all while driving his passion to make Columbia a thriving cultural destination.

“We know from proven practice that jazz is a great community connector. It brings together folks of all ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.”

– Mark Rapp, Executive Director

COLAJAZZ IS EMPOWERED BY…

“The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.”

– US Armed Forces

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The ColaJazz Foundation Board of Directors are a distinguished group of leaders from all facets of society who are committed to our mission of expanding jazz’s reach in and around Columbia, SC.

  • Mark Rouse

    CHAIR

  • Mary Kate Korpita

    VICE CHAIR

  • Susan Levi Wallach

    SECRETARY

  • David Campbell

    TREASURER

DIRECTORS

  • Luther Battiste

  • Katherine Davis

  • Sylvia Hanna

  • Shari Hutchinson

  • Mary Kate Korpita

  • Susan Levi-Wallach

  • Leah Lewis

  • Shelley Magee

  • Meg Senn

STAFF

  • Mark Rapp

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Sam Edwards

    DIRECTOR OF JAZZ EDUCATION & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

  • Logan Creech

    SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

CULTURAL EQUITY STATEMENT

The ColaJazz Foundation is committed to advancing cultural equity by promoting policies and practices that foster inclusivity and fairness in the arts. We believe all people—regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, identity, ability, or background—should have access to artistic expression, opportunities, and resources.

We recognize that systems of power have created inequities that must be addressed. Cultural equity is essential for the sustainability of the arts and the growth of a healthy, democratic society. By holding ourselves accountable and fostering collaboration, we aim to create lasting change.

ColaJazz strives to:

- Promote cultural awareness through learning and transparent policies.

- Identify and address inequities in our organization and report on progress.

- Dedicate resources to increasing diversity in leadership.

- Advocating for policies that support cultural equity.

- Strengthening leadership pipelines to reflect the diversity of our communities.