The Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) will celebrate Donny Hathaway's 80th birthday with a special production, "Someday We'll All Be Free: The Genius of Donny Hathaway," on September 27 and 28, 2025, at the Nugget Celebrity Showroom in Sparks, NV.
Hathaway, a pivotal figure in 1970s soul music, was a gifted singer, pianist, and composer whose work blended gospel, jazz, and R&B, often carrying powerful messages about civil rights. This unique RJO production, led by Music Director Dr. Greg Johnson, will feature an expanded roster of artists, including a string orchestra, original arrangements, guest vocalists, and a gospel choir. The concert will showcase Hathaway's well-known songs in the first half, with material from his album Extensions of a Man in the second.
Community outreach for the event will begin in mid-2025, involving local school districts and offering free tickets to students. Donny Hathaway's daughter, Donnita Hathaway, director of the Donny Hathaway Legacy Project, will participate in these efforts. Her organization aims to support individuals struggling with mental health, a cause deeply personal to her given her father's battle with paranoid schizophrenia and his suicide in 1979. Cliff Porter, who also leads a local mental health non-profit, will join Donnita Hathaway in the community outreach. Donnita Hathaway established her project to acknowledge her father's musical contributions, address the issue of suicide among young Black individuals, and share her own journey of healing through holistic methods.
You will not want to miss this incredible event!
Doors open at 6:00 PM; Concert at 7:00 PM.
Saturday September 27
Doors open at 3:00 PM; Concert at 4:00 PM.
Sunday September 28
The RJO's Discover Jazz Workshop is taught by Dylan Coleman-Tunstall and guest instructors. Rehearsals and concerts will be held at the Note-Able Music Therapy Services building, 2590 Orovada Street, Reno, NV.
This eight-week program offers students a comprehensive jazz education, focusing on essential skills like rhythmic exercises, ear training, and understanding chords and scales. Students will also learn to perform and improvise jazz tunes and practice active listening. These foundational skills are designed to prepare students for success in their school ensembles and provide them with the tools needed to audition for local honor groups or the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra.
The culminating project will be 2 performances opening for the Reno Jazz Orchestra.
The Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) has two youth ensembles, RYJO I and RYJO II, which differ primarily in the level of experience required and the number of live performances they have each season. Both ensembles are part of the Reno Jazz Orchestra's larger educational program, which aims to provide young people with opportunities for music appreciation, ensemble experience, and a rich cultural immersion in jazz. Membership in both groups is by audition.
Auditions for both ensembles begin on Monday, September 29, 2025 and run through Friday, Octboer 3, 2025. Audition times are between 5 and 8 pm.
There are payment plans and scholarships available each year.
