RJO's Education Programs
The Reno Jazz Orchestra enriches Northern Nevada through vibrant big band performances, showcases its talented musicians, and cultivates the next generation of jazz artists through impactful educational programs for middle school through college students. We invite you to help us transform talented students into exceptional musicians.
Explore the RJO's Education Programs
The Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) offers a dynamic and supportive environment for young musicians to immerse themselves in the world of jazz. This talented ensemble provides an exceptional opportunity to learn the intricacies of jazz harmony, rhythm, and improvisation through engaging with challenging repertoire and working collaboratively. By performing together and receiving guidance, members gain invaluable experience that fosters musical growth and a deep appreciation for this rich and evolving art form, making the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra a premier avenue for youth jazz education in the region.
→ Learn more about RYJO, including audition and performance schedules.
The Reno Jazz Orchestra offers a Saturday workshop in Reno, Nevada, led by Dylan Coleman-Tunstall, for students seeking to develop their improvisation, jazz theory, ear training, and small group performance skills. Limited to 10 students per 8-week session, offered at two levels each semester, this program culminates in a unique opportunity for students to open a Reno Jazz Orchestra concert with their small group performance, providing valuable experience beyond regular school ensembles.
→ Learn more about the Discover Jazz Workshop, including Sponsorship Levels.
For the last 20 years, the Reno Jazz Orchestra has hosted an annual Jazz in the Schools event. This free, one-day opportunity allows jazz ensembles from Northern Nevada to perform and receive valuable feedback from nationally recognized clinicians. The event's mission is to unite students for performance and learning alongside RJO musicians. This local performance opportunity also helps ensembles prepare for the Reno Jazz Festival, where participating schools have consistently demonstrated improved scores over the years.
→ Learn more about the Jazz in the Schools, including Sponsorship Levels.
The Reno Jazz Orchestra partners with a dozen Northern Nevada schools each semester, providing free mentorship from two experienced musicians who visit ensembles 6-8 times. In exchange for this valuable rehearsal support, focusing on improvisation, technique, and repertoire, ensembles perform at our Jazz in the Schools event and the Reno Jazz Festival, documenting their progress through pre- and post-recordings. This program has consistently fostered significant growth in participating school jazz ensembles.
→ Learn more about this innovative program, and how to help sustain needed resources.
The RJO's Lessons Program, initiated in Spring 2022, provides free individual and small-group music instruction to band students in low-income Northern Nevada schools who lack access to private lessons, with the goal of fostering their musical growth and future participation in advanced ensembles.
Help Sustain the RJO's Education Programs
The Reno Jazz Orchestra aims to enrich Northern Nevada's cultural landscape by delivering exceptional big band performances, showcasing its musicians through diverse ensembles, and fostering jazz education via mentorship programs in local schools and colleges. These efforts contribute significantly to the community's artistic vibrancy and diversity. Continued support is crucial for sustaining these vital educational initiatives.
