Karen and Vernon Scarbrough, RYJO Co-Founders

A Legacy of Music and Community: The Scarbroughs of Reno

The Reno-Sparks area has been home to Colonel (retired) Vernon Scarbrough for most of his life, a journey that saw him cultivate his passion for music, particularly the saxophone, within the Washoe County School District. His musical foundation led him to a Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in Music Education from the esteemed jazz program at the University of North Texas, followed by a Master's Degree in Fine Arts, Music Education from Southern Oregon University. Adding to his impressive academic achievements, Vernon also holds a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After dedicating twenty-two years to teaching band in the Washoe County School District, Vernon has since retired from that role and now serves as the Executive Director of the Reno Jazz Orchestra.

Sharing his deep roots in the Reno area is his wife, Karen Scarbrough, who also attended local schools before earning her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis on Advertising and a minor in Business Administration from the University of North Texas. Karen's professional path included a three-year stint in the Retail Advertising Department at the Reno Gazette Journal before she pursued a Master of Arts in Counseling and Education Psychology from the University of Nevada. This led to her current co-career as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Driven by a shared vision and recognizing a gap in the local arts landscape, Vernon and Karen co-founded the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) in 2006. Observing the presence of the Reno Youth Philharmonic and the Nevada Youth Opera Chorus, they identified a crucial need for a dedicated youth jazz program in Northern Nevada. Through their collaborative efforts in securing grants and donations, the Scarbroughs successfully established the RYJO, providing invaluable opportunities for the community's young musicians to explore and excel in the world of jazz. Together, Vernon and Karen Scarbrough represent a powerful force in Reno, dedicated to both enriching the local music scene and nurturing the talents of future generations.