Fourth quarter, 2022, was an exciting time for the RJO, as we merged the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra into our organization.

RYJO is the vehicle for big band jazz ensemble experience for local middle and high school musicians. The orchestra performs throughout the Northern Nevada and Northern California area, offering, on average, twelve performances during their nine-month season.

The orchestra was established in 2006, co-founded by Vernon Scarbrough and Karen Scarbrough. Vernon continues to be the Orchestra's Music Director, and Karen, the Director of Programs and Development.

Be sure to save the dates for this year's performance schedule. These young musicians are talented and dedicated; their music is awesome.

I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Tim for many years now. I first met him when he was the Reno Philharmonic Executive Director (ED) and I was the bass trombonist in the Phil. As the RJO’s ED I would contact him at the Phil and pick his brain on any number of questions I had about the business side of running a nonprofit. Last year the RJO hired him as a consultant to help us “refresh” the RJO’s administrative infrastructure. When our previous ED stepped down last October I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call later that month from Young. We had a nice chat during which he expressed interest in becoming our new ED. It took a couple of months to work out the details of him joining us and his first official day was February 13, 2023. Many of you probably know Tim, but I thought it would be fun to learn how his life path led to the RJO...

The RJO provides a Saturday workshop for students in Northern Nevada who would like to work on improvisation, jazz theory, ear training, and small group performance. Currently taught by Dylan Coleman-Tunstall and guest instructors, this 9-week program helps students improve playing by ear in a small group setting. The sessions are geared towards students with limited experience in either middle or high school.

UNR Student - Guitarist - RJO Scholarship Recipient

Spirits is our brand-new CD featuring the music of Earth Wind & Fire. It is the culmination of great recording sessions and studio polishing over the course of nine months. EWF’s music expresses hope, inspiration, and joy. The perfect elixir to re-engage with the world. Many of these songs you will know (and sing along) others might be new to your ears.

As a Legacy Society member, your passion, support, and dedication to our organization and fans worldwide will be forever treasured. With your commitment to create your personal legacy for the Reno Jazz Orchestra, you will sustain that extraordinary legacy of music and education that we are honored to share with our fans and community as well.

The RJO concluded this year's Jazz in the Schools program with an online concert featuring RJO trumpeter Julien Knowles with his quartet performing original compositions. The group played thirty minutes, then broke to answer questions from the participating students, and then the Quartet finished with another thirty-minute performance.

Our mission is to build a greater appreciation of jazz in Northern Nevada by providing outstanding big band performances, promoting the artistry of Reno Jazz Orchestra musicians through a variety of ensembles, and supporting jazz education through a mentorship program in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. All combined, we contribute to the vibrancy, diversity, cultural vitality, and quality of our community’s artistic life.

Stay in touch with the RJO by joining the RJO Fan Club. All we need is your name and your email address. We'll keep you informed about upcoming performances, events, and our plans for the future. We promise, we won't give your info to anyone outside our organication, and we won't fill your inbox with countless emails, but we will remind you of great music you won't want to miss.