Taking Jazz into the Future

Published February 6, 2025

Taking Jazz into the Future

by Chuck Reider

Jazz in the Schools Feb. 7th: Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra visits New Orleans

 

Since the Reno Jazz Orchestra’s inception in 1997 we have been motivated to inspire the next generation of musicians. Jazz is great American music handed down from generation to generation. Our children today need to know that they can do more than stream music. They can play it!  It is our mission to instill the love of jazz and help develop their skills so when it is their turn they can share jazz with the next generation. Two RJO staff members exemplify this passion: Executive Director Vern Scarbrough and Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) Director Nichole Heglund.  

I first met Scarbrough in 2006 when he and his wife Karen attended an RJO Board meeting to ask if they could use our name to start a youth orchestra. He was the Pine Middle School band director and had been teaching music for 21 years in the Washoe County School District. They started RYJO so students could dig deeper into jazz, and what a success it has been! Twenty years and counting.

Heglund is a prominent music educator and musician in northern Nevada since 2003 and has been on the RJO staff since 2015. Fun fact: in 2023 she formed Sapphire Jazz Ensemble, an all-women big band.
 

Vern Scarbrough introduces Jazz in the Schools
by Vern Scarbrough

The Reno Jazz Orchestra’s Jazz in the Schools event is a fantastic way to inspire young musicians across northern Nevada. Hosted at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Church Fine Arts Building, this lively gathering brings together more than 350 student musicians from 15 local middle and high schools for an exciting day devoted to jazz.

Students, whether in big bands or small combos, get to perform for panels made up of guest artists and professional jazz clinicians. They receive helpful advice, learn new improvisation techniques, and participate in fun, interactive workshops focused on ensemble playing and jazz style. These sessions are designed to connect classroom lessons with real-world music experiences, helping everyone grow in skill and confidence.

To top it all off, families and friends are invited to enjoy free public concerts that spotlight some amazing emerging talent along with seasoned pros. The performances feature the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO), led by Nichole Heglund, and the renowned Reno Jazz Orchestra, directed by Dr. Greg Johnson. There’s also a special appearance by Sapphire Jazz Ensemble, Nevada’s only all-women big band, highlighting the group's commitment to inclusion and leadership in jazz.

Throughout the entire day, students have opportunities to showcase their music, receive expert feedback from nationally recognized clinicians, and join workshops that make learning jazz approachable and enjoyable. This year we will welcome violinist Sara Caswell and trombonist Antonio Garcia as featured artists. By the end, everyone leaves a little more inspired and ready for the next step in their musical journey.

Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent or fan, the Jazz in the Schools event is an unforgettable celebration of performance, creativity, and community—proof that jazz is alive and thriving in northern Nevada!
 

Nichole Heglund: A Milestone Journey to the Birthplace of Jazz
by Nichole Heglund

One year ago, visiting the birthplace of jazz with the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra was merely a dream. Thanks to the support of the Reno Jazz Orchestra staff, board, and our incredibly generous donors, that dream became a reality.

Now in our 20th season—with 12 high school seniors and a roster primarily composed of returning members—we had the unique opportunity to celebrate this milestone with a trip to New Orleans to perform at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference on January 7-10, 2026.

At the conference, students were fortunate to hear bands from across the country and to learn from the industry's premier jazz musicians and educators. Both our combo and big band performed, receiving exceptional feedback from their clinicians. Our group also attended numerous clinics and performances; highlights included the Ted Nash Big Band, A Tuba to Cuba Live presented by the Preservation Hall Foundation, the Annie Booth Big Band, the Bob Mintzer/Dave Stryker Quartet featuring Peter Erskine and John Clayton, the Houston Latin Jazz Orchestra, Stefon Harris and Blackout, the U.S. Army Blues "Pershing’s Own" with Bob Mintzer, and the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra with Ingrid Jensen.

These were just a few of the many incredible concerts we attended. Our students made connections with presenters and fellow student performers alike. My favorite part, however, was seeing their eyes light up after a great performance. I vividly remember attending the University of Northern Colorado’s Greeley Jazz Festival as a high schooler. That experience is what led me to enroll there, so I know firsthand how life-changing these opportunities can be.

Beyond the music, it was important for the students to experience the soul of New Orleans. With the help of the Cultural Curriculum Project, we worked with two licensed tour guides who were also "tradition bearers"—one an actress and the other a Grammy-nominated jazz musician. They shared the history of how jazz emerged in the city. We walked the streets where Louis Armstrong’s house once stood, saw the buildings where he once played, and learned about the history of Congo Square and the impact of Jim Crow laws. The tour concluded with a dancer and a West African drummer teaching the students a call-and-response song involving singing, playing, and dancing. It was a beautiful way for our students to share their own musical skills in such a historic setting.

While exploring the French Quarter, students enjoyed the street performers, some had their caricatures drawn by local artists, and we made the mandatory stop at Café du Monde for their world-famous beignets. The group also sampled local cuisine, trying everything from fried alligator and po’ boys to gumbo.

I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to lead these fine young musicians on such a memorable trip. Everything ran smoothly, the weather was beautiful, and I know these inspirational moments will last a lifetime.

Jazz is alive and the best is yet to come!

For more info about Jazz in the Schools visit: renojazzorchestra.org/education/jazz_schools

Chuck Reider is the the President of the Reno Jazz Orchestra.

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