The University of Nevada, Reno’s School of the Arts spends months preparing for the much-anticipated annual Reno Jazz Festival. With the dynamic and evolving situation around the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the organizers have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Reno Jazz Festival, which would have celebrated its 58th year, April 23-25. 

The decision to cancel this year’s Festival does not come lightly. While far less than ideal, the decision is intended to ensure the safety of faculty, staff, community members and thousands of aspiring musicians and their families who typically attend the Festival. Festival participants travel from across Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and beyond to attend the Festival each year. 

“After considerable thought and deliberation, we feel that canceling the event is the respectful and prudent choice,” Shoshana Zeldner, Special Events Program Manager for the School of the Arts, said. “It is always a difficult decision to cancel events and the health and safety of the students, artists, teachers, volunteers, and event staff is our highest priority.” 

Information and notification of the cancelation is being sent directly to attendees, artists, adjudicators, vendors and other stakeholders. 

“With nearly 9,000 people involved with this annual event, we appreciate and request everyone’s patience and understanding with regard to the dissemination of information related to the cancelation,” said Zeldner. “The Reno Jazz Festival is committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for aspiring jazz musicians and vocalists and we are sorry we won’t be able to provide this opportunity in 2020. While we are incredibly disappointed that this year’s festival will not take place, we are appreciative of the community’s support in helping us continue the Festival in 2021.” 

Participating schools and attendees will receive full refunds for all purchases including, Festival group registration fees, passes and individual concert tickets. 

For questions directly related to the cancelation of the Reno Jazz Festival, please call 775-784-4278, or email rjf@unr.edu. Organizers hope the Reno Jazz Festival and University community will carry the momentum and enthusiasm into next year’s Festival, April 22-24, 2021. 

To remain vigilant and prepared, the University continues to align communication and information sharing with the Washoe County Health District, the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health and the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory. 

At this time, the University has not mandated the canceling of any events. Special event organizers are encouraged to make their own decisions regarding postponing or cancelation. Furthermore, the University recommends that all event organizers consider the size and scope of their event, and analyze the geographic spread of the audience who will be attending, when weighing the merits of such a decision. Event organizers should be aware that special preparations need to be made in light of public health recommendations related to communicable illnesses, particularly as they relate to individuals who belong to groups that the CDC has identified as being at a higher health risk from COVID-19. 

The University has preventive measures and controls in place to support the health and safety of the University community and continues to review and adapt its planning and strategies as more is learned every day. The University has created a Novel Coronavirus Information Page, which is updated regularly. The page contains the latest information and includes a variety of sources, as well as tips for faculty, students and staff regarding issues that could arise from coronavirus.