Meet the festival composer

Jessika Smith is the 2024 official Festival Composer, selected to help further the composition of music by underrepresented communities in jazz. Jessika has produced a composition specific to the 2024 RJF that all registered groups attending the Festival are invited to perform in their review. Jessika will participate in a Festival Composer Q&A meeting. Jessika will also conduct a clinic and will be adjudicating student performances. Registered groups can email RJF or call (775) 784-4278 to get Jessika’s composition. 

About Jessika Smith

Portland-based composer, saxophonist, and music educator Jessika Smith holds her Master’s degree in Jazz Composition from the University of Oregon, where she studied with Steve Owen. She has taught for many years at the EWU Jazz Dialogue Summer Camp, regularly teaches at the Seattle Saxophone Institute Summer Camp, and the Seattle JazzEd Prep Camp. She has adjudicated at the PLU Weathermon Jazz Festival and The Oregon Jazz Festival amongst various other festivals. Her 2013 composition, “Lights,” for large jazz ensemble was the winner of the first annual Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra Composition Contest. She is proud to be a featured composer with Brava Jazz Publishing and plays frequently in Oregon and Washington with assorted jazz groups.