JAZZ IN THE SCHOOLS NEWS RELEASE – Over 300 middle and high school musicians will perform during the 14th annual Jazz in the Schools program on Saturday, February 1, in Nightingale Concert Hall at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus. The event is free to the students and the public and will showcase the region’s best school jazz bands starting at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until 4:30 p.m. This event helps to prepare the school groups to compete in the Reno Jazz Festival each spring and introduces them to UNR and the UNR jazz faculty.
In addition to the Jazz in The Schools program offering entertainment throughout the day, nationally recognized clinicians are on site to critique each student group’s performance; the professional educators then work with that group immediately after their concert to improve their jazz performance skills.
“This annual event is part of our community educational outreach efforts,” said Chuck Reider, Music Director for the Reno Jazz Orchestra. “There is no cost to the students or the school to partake in this interactive educational program. Over 300 students from 14 school bands within Washoe County will participate in the event which is open and free to the public throughout the day.”
The evening before the festival, the Reno Jazz Orchestra also hosts a “Jazz Improvisation Workshop” for any Washoe County School District band director. During this interactive evening, one of the clinicians shares his insight on jazz improvisation concepts and teaching techniques. Interested band directors should contact Jazz in the Schools Coordinator Andy Heglund directly at 775-338-7393.
The Reno Jazz Orchestra started in 1977. The EL Cord Foundation, The City of Reno, Nevada Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works, Healing Healthcare Systems, Ashley Quinn, and the RJO Band of 100 support this annual event.
For more information, contact Lee Weber Koch, Marketing Partner with the RJO, at 775-846-5444 or email [email protected].
