Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media News Room

Eastman and ECMS Featured in the Rochester International Jazz Festival’s 23rd Edition

Lauren Sageer| Associate Director of PR and Digital Content

May 28, 2026

Announcing 2026 RIJF/ESM Scholarship Recipient Nathaniel France

The Rochester Regional Health Rochester International Jazz Festival (RIJF), presented by M&T Bank, enters its 23rd edition on Friday, June 19, and runs through Saturday, June 27, with performances held at multiple venues in downtown Rochester, including concert spaces at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music. This year’s lineup will feature numerous musicians from the Eastman community—current students, faculty, staff, and alumni—as well as students and faculty from the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS).

The nine-day festival, of which the University of Rochester is a major sponsor, includes more than 300 shows, over 1,700 artists, 110+ FREE performances, and many renowned headliners. The events will take place in 19 venues, including Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Kilbourn Hall, and Hatch Recital Hall. Most other locations are within walking distance of the school’s campus on Gibbs Street, which is renamed “Jazz Street” during the event. Eastman has been involved with the festival since it was founded in 2002.

In addition to paid and free performances, the RIJF Jazz Workshops—sponsored by Wegmans and hosted by Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media and ECMS Senior Instructor of Jazz Guitar Bob Sneider ’93—run throughout the week in Eastman’s Ray Wright Room. This series of five structured jazz workshops is open to music students of all ages, providing the opportunity to meet, perform with, and learn from five professional jazz musicians performing at the festival.

The RIJF/ESM Scholarship

The Rochester International Jazz Festival/Eastman School of Music Jazz Scholarship Program (RIJF/ESM Scholarship) is sponsored by RIJF producers Marc Iacona and John Nugent and funded by proceeds from the annual festival. Since the program’s inception in 2002, RIJF has committed more than $300,000 in scholarship support to Eastman, helping talented young musicians attend the school. To date, 46 scholarships have been awarded.

Nate France, trumpet, 2026 RIJF/ESM Scholarship recipient

The 2026 RIJF/ESM Scholarship recipient is jazz trumpeter Nathaniel France, a senior at Webster Schroeder High School in Rochester, NY. Nate is co-principal trumpet of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and recently won a scholarship to attend the 50th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference, taking place May 26-30, 2026, at the Eastman School of Music. Beyond playing trumpet, Nate enjoys competitive wrestling, playing video games, fishing, and working out. He also loves his job at WonderCare, where he provides care for kids in grades K-5. This fall, Nate will join the studio of Professor of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media Clay Jenkins.

The award will be presented by Nugent and Iacona on Monday, June 22, at 7:30 PM on the Jazz Street Stage presented by The Community Foundation during the festival’s annual free Jazz Scholarship Concert. Alongside France, the concert will feature performances by current students and faculty from Eastman’s Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media program, as well as RIJF alums. They will repeat the program later that evening at 9:30 PM.

Schedule of Events featuring Eastman/ECMS

To view the full schedule and purchase tickets, visit the RIJF website.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

5:45 & 7:45 PM – Bob Sneider ’93 (Eastman/ECMS Faculty) and Paul Hofmann (ECMS Faculty): Music of Stevie Wonder
Club Pass or $30/door | Hatch Recital Hall

6:00 PM – Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra w. Herb Smith ’91E
Free | Jazz Street Stage

7:45 PM – 585 Brass Band*
Free | Wegmans Pavilion
*Led by Eastman master’s student and ECMS student teacher Nelsen Campbell, jazz trombone

9:30 PM – Celebrating John Coltrane w. Joe Lovano & Special Guests*
Club Pass or $40/door | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
*Featuring Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media Otis Brown III, drums

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Mike Cottone ’07E
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

6:00 PM – ECMS Jazz Combos directed by Bob Sneider ’93 (Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jazz Street Stage

6:00 & 9:00 PM – Alexa Tarantino Quartet (’14E, saxophone)
Club Pass or $35/door | Kilbourn Hall

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Mike Cottone ’07E
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

4:30 & 5:15 PM – Joey Stempien Big Band*
Free | Jazz Street Stage
*Composer, bandleader, and URochester alum Joey Stempien ’26 performs with Eastman students

7:30 & 9:45 PM – Bill Tiberio Band (ECMS Faculty)
Club Pass or $30/door | The Duke

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Bob Sneider (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

MONDAY, JUNE 22

12:00 PM – Mike Melito, drums*
Free | Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
*Includes Bob Sneider (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty), guitar

1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Joe Farnsworth, drums
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room

5:30 & 7:45 PM – Charles Pillow Octet (’84E (MM), Eastman Faculty) feat. Amy Azzara
Club Pass or $30/door | Inn on Broadway

6:00 PM – ESM Jazz Honors Unit 1
Free | Jazz Street Stage

7:30 & 9:30 PM – RIJF/ESM Scholarship Concert feat. Nate France ’30E, trumpet
Free | Jazz Street Stage

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Bob Sneider (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

TUESDAY, JUNE 23

12:00 PM – Prime Time Brass*
Free | Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
*Includes Jonathan Kruger ’82E (MM), ’84E (DMA), trumpet

1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Allan Harris, voice
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room

5:45 & 7:45 PM – Harold Danko (Eastman Emeritus Faculty)
Club Pass or $30/door | Hatch Recital Hall

6:00 PM – New Horizons Big Band directed by Priscilla Todd Brown (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jazz Street Stage

7:30 & 9:30 PM – Music Educators Big Band Bill Tiberio (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jazz Street Stage

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Bob Sneider (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24

1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Dawn Clement, piano
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room

6:00 PM – New Horizons Jazz Ensemble directed by Don Sherman (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Wegmans Pavilion

6:00 PM – ECMS Faculty w. Special Guest Vocalists
Free | Jazz Street Stage

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Bob Sneider (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Roberto Occhipinti, bass
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room

6:00 PM – ESM Jazz Honors Unit 2
Free | Jazz Street Stage

7:00 PM – Robin McKelle & The Flytones Stax Soul Sessions (Eastman Adjunct Jazz Faculty)
Free | Wegmans Stage at Parcel 5

7:45 PM – Excursion Jazz Orchestra directed by Don Sherman (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Wegmans Pavilion

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Bob Sneider (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Billy Goodness, drums
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room

6:00 PM – Mike Kaupa’s ECMS Ensembles & Junior Jazz
Free | Jazz Street Stage

6:00 PM – Prime Time Brass*
Free | Wegmans Pavilion
*Includes Jonathan Kruger ’82E (MM), ’84E (DMA), trumpet

7:30 & 9:30 PM – Robin McKelle & The Flytones Stax Soul Sessions (Eastman Adjunct Jazz Faculty)
Free | Jazz Street Stage

7:45 PM – Mambo Kings*
Free | Wegmans Pavilion
*Includes pianist and musical director Richard DeLaney ’79E (MA)

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Mike Cottone ’07E
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

6:00 PM – ESM Jazz Honors Unit 3
Free | Jazz Street Stage

8:00 PM – The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra*
Headliner Series – Ticketed | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
*Includes Isrea Butler ’04E, ’06E (MM), trombone; Shawn Edmonds ’87E, trumpet; Dave Glasser ’84E, ’86E (MM), saxophone

10:30 PM – Jam Session w. Mike Cottone ’07E
Free | Hyatt Regency Rochester—Squeezers Jam Sessions

To learn more, view the full schedule of events and purchase tickets, visit the RIJF website.

Media only:

Eastman School of Music, Lauren Sageer, (585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu

Rochester International Jazz Festival, Amanda Antinore, (585) 729-7533, amanda@rochesterjazz.com

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About the Rochester International Jazz Festival:

The Rochester Regional Health Rochester International Jazz Festival, presented by M&T Bank, is one of the largest jazz festivals in the United States and the largest in New York State, transforming downtown Rochester, NY, each June into a walkable celebration of world-class live music. Over nine days, more than 1,750 artists perform in more than 300 concerts across 19 venues – from iconic concert halls and intimate clubs to vibrant free outdoor stages. With legendary performers, rising stars, and global talent, the festival delivers an unmatched mix of jazz and creative music in a lively festival setting. The unique European-style format allows audiences to experience multiple shows each night, creating one of the most immersive and musically diverse jazz festival experiences in North America. The festival is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company. The festival team is led by Marc Iacona, Executive Director and Producer; John Nugent, Artistic Director; Karl Stabnau, Operations Director; Jean Dalmath and Amanda Antinore, Public Relations/Marketing Directors; and Jenna Manetta-Knauf, Logistics Director. Since its founding in 2002, annual attendance has grown from 15,000 to over 210,000, generating $220M+ in regional economic impact and establishing the Festival as a premier international summer music event.

About Eastman Community Music School:

The Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) in collaboration with members of the collegiate division faculty, strives to introduce students of all ages to the joy and discipline of music by providing a rich environment that supports each student’s musical participation and enjoyment, develops a solid foundation for the young musician aspiring to a professional career, presents opportunities for lifelong musical experiences, and offers ongoing development for teachers and other music professionals. ECMS believes that music is not only an essential part of quality education, but also a powerful contributor to quality of life. George Eastman created ECMS in 1921 for the enrichment of the residents of greater Rochester, with the expectation that this experience should be available to everyone, regardless of age, musical background, or ability to pay. More than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled.

About Eastman School of Music:

The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854-1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.

More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprising more than 170 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy and EMMY Award winners, Guggenheim Fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 1,000 concerts to the Rochester community and beyond. Additionally, over 1,700 community members, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.

About the University of Rochester:

The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.