The Rochester International Jazz Festival in partnership with Rochester Regional Health (RIJF) enters its 22nd edition on Friday, June 20, and runs through Saturday, June 28, 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 285 shows, over 1,750 artists, 110+ FREE performances, and many renowned headliners. The events will take place in 18 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 John Nugent and Marc Iacona 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, 45 scholarships have been awarded.
Ethan Hart, saxophone, 2025 RIJF/ESM Scholarship recipient
The 2025 RIJF/ESM Scholarship recipient is saxophonist Ethan Hart, a senior at Williamsville North High School in Buffalo, NY. The child of two music teachers, Ethan was exposed to music at a very young age. Inspired to pick up a saxophone after hearing his dad perform with esteemed saxophonist Bobby Militello (a former member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet), Ethan’s formal musical studies began at age nine. He will continue to sharpen his skills by attending the Eastman School of Music in the fall of 2025 where he will major in Music Education and Jazz Studies.
The award will be presented by Nugent and Iacona on Monday, June 23, at 7:30 PM on the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by The Community Foundation during the festival’s annual free Jazz Scholarship Concert. Alongside Hart, 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 20
3:45 PM – Harley School Jazz Band directed by Mike Kaupa (ECMS Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
6:00 PM – Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
6:00 PM – Prime Time Brass*
Free | Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
*Includes Jonathan Kruger ‘82E (MM), ’84E (DMA), trumpet
7:00 & 9:00 PM – Dan Atkinson Septet*
Free | Wegmans Pavilion
*Includes current Eastman students: Dan Atkinson, Carter Bowman, Jacob Merrill, Wyatt Pepper, Daniel Zawel, Danica Rebudiao, and Coleman Breining
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
4:30 PM – Fairport HS Jazz Band directed by Bill Tiberio (ECMS Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
6:00 PM – ESM Jazz Honors Unit 1
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
6:15 & 10:00 PM – Sullivan Fortner Trio*
Club Pass or $30/door | Max of Eastman Place
*Includes Tyrone Allen ’17E, bass
8:00 PM – Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra* with Wynton Marsalis
Headliner Series (SOLD OUT) | Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
*Includes Alexa Tarantino ’14E, saxophone
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
6:00 PM – ECMS Jazz Combos Directed by Bob Sneider ’93 (Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
6:00 PM – Herb Smith Freedom Trio (’91E)
Club Pass or $30/door | Montage Music Hall
7:30 PM – Bill Tiberio Band (ECMS Faculty)
Club Pass or $30/door | The Duke
9:30 PM – Herb Smith Freedom Trio (’91E)
Club Pass or $30/door | Montage Music Hall
9:45 PM – Bill Tiberio Band (ECMS Faculty)
Club Pass or $30/door | The Duke
10:30 PM – Bob Sneider Trio (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jam Session | Hyatt Regency Rochester
MONDAY, JUNE 23
1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Dawn Thomson, Vocal Jazz (Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room
6:00 PM – ECMS Faculty w. Special Guest Vocalists*
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
*The ECMS Faculty Trio comprises Bob Sneider ’93, Eugene Bisdikian ’17E, ’20E (MM), and Mike Melito. Featured vocalists are Emma Grace Wade and Harrison Candelario (Eastman Students), Amelia Nugent (ECMS Student), Crystal Sellers Battle (Eastman Faculty), Lauren Sageer (Eastman Staff), and Shaya Greathouse (ECMS Staff).
7:30 & 9:30 PM – RIJF-ESM Scholarship Concert feat. Ethan Hart ’29E
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
7:30 & 9:45 PM – Spin Cycle*
Club Pass or $30/door | The Duke
*Includes Thomas Christensen ’84E, ’86E (MM), saxophone
10:30 PM – Bob Sneider Trio (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jam Session | Hyatt Regency Rochester
TUESDAY, JUNE 24
12:00 PM – Simon Fletcher Trio (’07E)
Free | Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Scott Mayo, Saxophone
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room
5:45 & 7:45 PM – Timothy Ogunbiyi ’24E (DMA), Piano
Club Pass or $30/door | Hatch Recital Hall
6:00 PM – New Horizons Big Band directed by Priscilla Todd Brown (ECMS Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
6:45 & 9:00 PM – Greenhoe & Bilger Trio*
Club Pass or $30/door | The Little Theatre – Roots & Americana Series
*Includes Eli Greenhoe (studied composition at Eastman)
7:30 & 9:30 PM – Music Educators Big Band Bill Tiberio (ECMS Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
10:30 PM – Bob Sneider Trio (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jam Session | Hyatt Regency Rochester
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25
1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Herb Smith ’91E, Trumpet
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room
5:30 & 7:45 PM – Dave Rivello Ensemble (’89E (MM), Eastman Faculty)
Club Pass or $30/door | Inn on Broadway
6:00 PM – New Horizons Jazz Ensemble directed by Don Sherman (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
6:00 PM – ESM Jazz Honors Unit 2
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
7:30 & 9:30 PM – Rochester Metro Jazz Orchestra directed by Dave Rivello ’89E (MM) (Eastman Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
8:30 PM – Bad Sneakers*
Club Pass or $30/door | Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
*Includes Bill Tiberio (ECMS Faculty), Bill Straub ’93E, ’95E (MM), and Eva L. Brieger Regan ’90E (MM)
10:30 PM – Bob Sneider Trio (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jam Session | Hyatt Regency Rochester
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Paul Hofmann, Piano (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room
12:00 PM – Mike Kaupa Quartet* (ECMS Faculty)
Free | Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
*Includes Bob Sneider ’93, guitar, and Kyle Vock ’10E (MM), bass
5:30 & 7:45 PM – Rich Thompson Trio: Generations* (Eastman Faculty)
Club Pass or $30/door | Inn on Broadway
*Includes Timothy Ogunbiyi ’24E (DMA), piano; and Zach Walgren ’23E, bass
6:00 PM – New Horizons Jazz Ensemble directed by Don Sherman (ECMS Faculty)
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
10:30 PM – Bob Sneider Trio (’93, Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Jam Session | Hyatt Regency Rochester
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
12:00 PM — Quinn Lawrence ’04E
Free | Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County
1:00 PM – Jazz Workshop w. Jeff Campbell ’92E (MM), ’02E (DMA), Acoustic Bass (Eastman/ECMS Faculty)
Free | Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room
6:00 PM – Mike Kaupa’s ECMS Ensembles & Junior Jazz
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
7:00 & 9:00 PM – USP*
Free | Wegmans Pavilion
*Includes Dan Atkinson (Eastman Student), trombone
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
3:45 PM – MCC Jazz Ensemble*
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
*Includes John Nyerges ’80E, ’97E (MM), piano
6:00 PM – ESM Jazz Honors Unit 3 — The Sonic Alchemists*
Free | City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage
*Includes Eshan Sood ’25E, guitar
8:30 PM – Kneebody*
Club Pass or $30/door | Rochester Regional Health Big Tent
*Includes Adam Benjamin ’99E, keyboard; Shane Endsley ’97E, trumpet; and Ben Wendel ’99E, saxophone
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, aantinore@dalmath.com
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About RIJF/ESM Scholarship Recipient Ethan Hart:
Ethan Hart is a saxophonist who is currently a senior at Williamsville North High School. A native of Buffalo, New York, Ethan was exposed to music at a very young age by his parents Chris and Michelle Hart, who are both music teachers. Inspired by hearing esteemed saxophonist Bobby Militello performing with his dad, Ethan insisted on playing the saxophone and began his formal musical studies at age nine. He has studied jazz and classical styles with Tim Martin and Ken Kuriscak, as well as jazz theory with Jason Beaudreau. Ethan has participated in a series of honor groups including ECMEA All-County, NYSSMA Area and Conference All-State, and NAfME All-Eastern. Currently a member of the Vitko Big Band, Ethan has also performed with the Easy Street Big Band, St. Joseph’s University Contemporary Music Ensemble, and the Fredtown Stompers. Ethan has been a featured soloist performing with Roland Martin at Calvary Episcopal Church’s concert series. Ethan is also scheduled to perform as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in July 2025. Ethan is the 2025 recipient of the Rochester International Jazz Festival/Eastman School of Music Jazz Scholarship, the Queen City Jass Society Burns/Gerlach Memorial Jazz Scholarship, and the Ed Yadzinski Scholarship for the Arts. Ethan Hart plans to further his musical understanding by attending the Eastman School of Music in the fall of 2025 where he will double major in Music Education and Jazz Studies.
About the Rochester International Jazz Festival:
The Rochester International Jazz Festival (RIJF) in partnership with Rochester Regional Health is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals. Founded in 2002, the nine-day multi-dimensional festival is held annually in downtown Rochester, NY, drawing more than 200,000 people to 285+ shows and 18 venues. Presenting more than 1,750 legendary performers, familiar favorites and new discoveries, the Festival navigates all genres of creative improvised music from all corners of the world. RIJF is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company owned by John Nugent and Marc Iacona. Nugent, Producer and Artistic Director, is a noted tenor sax player, who has traveled the world with many jazz artists, including Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, The Woody Herman Orchestra and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Marc Iacona, Producer and Executive Director, is a Rochester native and President of Simcona Electronics. A business and community leader, he is an avid trumpeter and supporter of the arts.
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 a 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.
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 comprised of more than 170 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy 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 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, 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.