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.
Meet Our Music Directors.
Northern Nevada's vibrant jazz scene thrives thanks to the dynamic and dedicated music directors guiding the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) and the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO). These exceptional ensembles, which have become true regional treasures, are a source of pride and connection for our community.
We invite you to experience the magic live at one of our upcoming performances. Check the Events Calendar for dates and times. Come discover the passion and artistry of Reno's big band jazz!
Dr. Greg Johnson is an emerging force in jazz, recognized for his distinctive saxophone sound and diverse compositional style spanning jazz, classical, and popular music. As a sought-after saxophonist, he has performed with jazz legends and toured with major pop and rock artists, appearing on over 40 recordings. Now, the Reno Jazz Orchestra has appointed him as their new Music Director.
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Nichole Heglund moved to Reno in 2003 and has since become the new Music Director of The Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra. A dedicated music educator, she has taught at various Reno schools and currently teaches at Verdi and Veterans Elementary. She holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Nevada, Reno. We welcome Nichole as the RYJO's Music Director.
The Reno music community lost a vibrant, inventive, and personable member last month. Bill Hecht gave us memorable piano performances either soloing or as part of an ensemble. He was a keyboardist, composer, arranger, and technical music wizard. But most importantly Bill was a pleasure to work with both on and off the stage. His career was diverse performing with the Harrah's Reno orchestra, touring with Englebert Humperdinck, countless jazz combos, and singing with both the Reno Phil and Nevada Opera choruses. He joined the RJO in 2006 and was a valued musician. His ears helped guide many of our recordings. We miss his wit, his talents, his comradeship and we will always love him madly.
Friends, collegues, and fellow musicians share their thoughts about Bill.
When Nina Simone passed away on April 21, 2003, her funeral service was attended by Miriam Makeba, Patti Labelle, poet Sonia Sanchez, actor Ossie Davis, and hundreds of others. Elton John sent a floral tribute with the message, "You were the greatest and I love you."
And the legacy continues. . .
Yes, her legacy continues through the voice of Morgan James. Join the Reno Jazz Orchestra and Ms. James celebrating the music of Nina Simone on August 24 at UNR's Nightingale Hall and August 25 at the Sand Harbor Trepp Amphitheater. She has seen success on Broadway, jazz clubs, and a solo career embracing soul music in all its forms. In middle school her grandmother paid for her singing lessons which developed a dream of attending Julliard.
As a cherished member of our Legacy Society, your deep-seated passion for the Reno Jazz Orchestra, your unwavering support of our mission, and your profound dedication to the power of music will be forever treasured and remembered within our organization and the wider community we serve. By making the thoughtful commitment to create your personal legacy through a planned gift to the Reno Jazz Orchestra, you are not merely leaving a bequest; you are actively ensuring the long-term vitality and continuation of that extraordinary legacy of vibrant music, engaging educational programs, and enriching cultural experiences that we are so deeply honored to share with our devoted fans and the Reno community for generations to come. Your vision and generosity will resonate through every note played and every student inspired, solidifying your place as a vital architect of our future.
Connecting with the Reno Jazz Orchestra and becoming a vital part of our musical family is easy – simply join the RJO Fan Club! All we need to keep you in the loop is your name and your preferred email address. By joining, you'll be among the first to receive updates about our exciting upcoming performances, special events, and the unfolding plans we have for the future of the orchestra and our community engagement. Rest assured that your personal information is important to us; we promise to keep it secure within our organization and will never share it with external parties. While we value your attention, we also respect your inbox, so you won't be inundated with countless emails. Instead, expect timely reminders of the exceptional music and unforgettable experiences you truly won't want to miss, ensuring you always have a front-row seat to the magic of the RJO.
