Common Chord and the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Society are joining forces to reach more people in the Quad Cities and beyond.
The two organizations are officially merging as Bix Society programs will join Common Chord’s list of programs. The Bix Jazz Festival will benefit from Common Chord’s capacity and staff and broaden its reach to the over 50,000 community members Common Chord serves every year, as well as untapped audiences in the Quad Cities community. The merger preserves the core mission of the Bix Society, “to perpetuate the music and memory of Bix Beiderbecke and music of the traditional jazz era,” while joining Common Chord’s mission to improve the Quad Cities through the power of music. The new Bix Society Advisory Board, a committee of volunteers who are passionate about building a strong future for the Bix Jazz Festival and Youth Band, will guide the programs.
“This partnership ushers in an exciting new era for Bix’s legacy, traditional jazz and the Quad Cities community,” said James Beiderbecke, board member of the Bix Jazz Society and great grandnephew of Bix Beiderbecke. “Uniting with Common Chord allows opportunity to explore new programs, events, and ambitions for a bright future. Together, we will fulfill our mission to an even greater extent. Bix Lives!”
“Common Chord is delighted to provide a new home for the Bix Jazz Festival and Bix Youth Band,” said Tyson Danner, Executive Director of Common Chord. “Through our close partnership, we have found perfect alignment in our missions. We are eager to bring Common Chord’s skills to the table to carry forward the proud history of the Bix Jazz Society.”
“For nearly two decades, The Cultural Trust has invested in deeply rooted institutions like Common Chord because we believe in the power of experts doing what they do best,” said Jen Lewis-Snyder, president and CEO of The Cultural Trust, a mission supporter for Common Chord. “When we strengthen the people and places already trusted by the community, we don’t just preserve what’s worth saving, we build the systems that keep it thriving. Innovative solutions like this are perfect examples of how our Legacy Partners think creatively, creating more impact in our community while dissolving barriers that otherwise might hold the Quad Cities back from being the creative capital of the Midwest we know it can be.”
Bix Society programs include:
• The Bix Jazz Festival: The 2026 Bix Jazz Festival is scheduled for July 30 through August 1, 2026. The festival will feature top-tier traditional jazz bands from around the country and many special events throughout the week, including jam sessions, a concert at Bix’s gravesite, and a lunchtime riverboat cruise. Tickets will go on sale in late winter.
• The Bix Youth Band: An audition-only jazz band comprised of high school students from around the Quad Cities. Led by a professional jazz musician and educator, the Youth Band gives students an opportunity to explore traditional jazz, gain performing experience in a variety of concert settings, and earn scholarship funds to support their future educational endeavors. The Bix Youth Band is a featured performer at the Bix Jazz Festival.
Click here for more on Common Chord or visit their Facebook page. Click here for more on the Bix Society and its programs or visit their Facebook page.