Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) has named Orlando Watson as the new executive director of arts engagement and signature events. He will oversee the Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland. Watson previously served as associate director of the festival from 2019 to 2022. He will start his new role on November 24, 2025. At 34, he will be the youngest director in the festival’s history. Watson is returning to Northeast Ohio to lead the event.
Watson has experience in arts programming. He was most recently the senior director of programming at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh. There, he managed the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival and started the Hooks & Phonics Festival in 2024, which focuses on hip-hop culture. As a musician, Watson has worked with artists such as Terence Blanchard, Keyon Harrold, John Clayton, and Braxton Cook.
Watson plans to expand the JazzFest audience, increase student involvement, and support the festival’s long-term stability. He stated that he aims to respect the festival’s history while adapting to changes in music. The annual JazzFest attracts over 7,000 attendees for main performances and about 18,500 for free outdoor shows. It is a significant event in Cleveland’s cultural calendar…