Reno Jazz Festival Records

The University of Nevada Reno Jazz Festival is the oldest educational festival in the western United States. It was founded in 1962 by Dr. John Carrico, Sr., director of bands at the University. The annual festival offers instructional clinics, performances by international musicians, and competitions for middle school, high school and college performers.

The first University of Nevada Alumni Association trophy was awarded in 1966. The festival moved to the Pioneer Center in Reno for the 1968 festival. In 1971, the name was changed to the University of Nevada Jazz Ensemble Festival, and a vocal competition division was added. In 1972, the name was changed to the Reno Jazz Band Festival. The competition became international in 1973, with Canadian participation. From 1976 until 1990, its name was the Reno International Jazz Festival.

In 1990, the University's Department of Music resumed co-administration of the festival, along with the Division of Continuing Education (now called Extended Studies). In 1991, the name was changed to the University of Nevada, Reno Jazz Festival. The festival expanded to a 3-night format in 2000 and had over 10,000 attendees for the first time in 2004. It is part of the Jazz Studies Program in the School of the Arts’ Department of Music, which is within the College of Liberal Arts. Over 300,000 students, parents, jazz lovers, and festival staff participated in the festival's first 50 years, 1962-2012.