On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, jazz lovers from across Cincinnati gathered at the Aronoff Center for the Arts for the 5th International Jazz Festival, presented by ABC. The event featured over 150 talented student musicians from the Cincinnati Public Schools Jazz Academy.
The festival was a massive success, and the evening showcased extraordinary talents and performances. The CPS Jazz Academy Orchestra, led by Dr. Isidore Rudnick, premiered their new piece CityScape to audiences. There were also special performances from Camille Thurman, an internationally acclaimed jazz artist, and Tanya Darby, a renewed soloist and educator. These musicians captured the audience, and ABC can’t wait to host future International Jazz Festivals to come! See below for a sneak peak of our 6th annual International Jazz Festival.
Date: Saturday, February 28th
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The Aronoff Center for the Arts (650 Walnut Street)
Cost: FREE (tickets not required)
We deeply appreciate the support of our incredible sponsors, who made this event possible:
Flip and Sheila Cohen, Ohio Arts Council, Milestone Fund, Cincinnati Arts Association, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Kennedy Heights Arts Center.
Prior to the main concert, ABC hosted a special donor pre-event in the Loge Lobby. Attendees had the opportunity to mingle with CPS leadership, including Superintendent Shauna Murphy and School Board President Dr. Kareem Moncree-Moffett, while enjoying delicious food, drinks, and an intimate performance by CPS students Tia Watkins (flute) and Ra’Shad Williams (violin).
Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported the arts in our schools!
On October 5, 2019, over 250 students who live in the Cincinnati area gathered at the Aronoff Center to participate in the first ever CPS International Jazz Festival.
During this all day event, the student-musicians performed for professional jazz musicians, and were able to get constructive feedback from the professionals to help them master their craft. In addition, the students were able to sit in more intimate master-classes, where the accomplished jazz musicians gave lessons, and shared their experiences in the world of jazz.
The evening featured performances from an ensemble of professional musicians as well as larger student groups. The ensemble included the award-winning Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, Todor Bakardzhiev (Bulgaria), pianist Shamie Royston (New York City), bassist Chris Berg (Dayton, Ohio), and drummer Art Gore (Cincinnati). The student groups featured included the Pipkov National Music School Jazz Ensemble (Bulgaria), the Greater Cincinnati Youth Jazz Collaborative, and the CPS Elementary Jazz Academy Orchestra.
The International Jazz Festival returned May 7, 2022. Internationally famous jazz saxophonist Joan Chamorro from Barcelona Spain joined 107 students and 11 professional jazz musicians from the Cincinnati region for a full day of workshops, masterclasses, and performance opportunities. This was capped off by an evening performance on the main stage at the Aronoff Center.
Because cost of tickets was a barrier to access for families at the previous Jazz Festival, ABC waived ticket fees and allowed all members of the public free access to the show. By the time the instruments started playing, 1200 seats were full in the Aronoff Center (about double the attendance from the first Jazz Festival). We received reports that indicated the second Jazz Festival increased impact on the Cincinnati community by 153%.
From September 1-8, 2022, Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) partnered with the Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) to take eleven students in the CPS Jazz Academy to Barcelona, Spain. In addition to several parent chaperones, the CPS Middle School Jazz Combo were accompanied on their trip by Dr. Isidore Rudnick, the Fine Arts Curiculum Manager and Director of the CPS Jazz Academy, as well as ABC’s Executive Director, Sally Grimes.
The students performed at the Jazzing Festival de Sant Andreu on Sunday, September 4th to a packed audience of jazz enthusiasts. The students also attended intimate workshops led by professional musicians throughout the weekend, gaining valuable insight to their craft. Throughout the weekend, the CPS students had the opportunity to socialize and perform with student musicians from Barcelona and the Canary Islands, forming new friendships that cross international boundaries.
ABC and Cincinnati Public Schools were thrilled to return the favor, and welcome these students from Barcelona and Joan Chamorro to Cincinnati for the 2023 CPS International Jazz Festival! Joan and his students showed tremendous hospitality and kindness to the CPS students throughout their visit to Barcelona, and ABC did our best to return the favor when the Joan and his students visited Cincinnati in May 2023!
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the 3rd CPS International Jazz Festival was held at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Bringing together 110 talented students from Cincinnati Public Schools and eight budding musicians from Barcelona’s Sant Andreu Jazz Band, this year’s festival was a testament to the power of jazz in uniting hearts across continents. These students from Barcelona were accompanied by acclaimed jazz musician and educator, Joan Chamorro.
In the daytime, students participated in a bustling series of workshops and jam sessions led by seasoned jazz musicians. These workshops provided the students with invaluable opportunities to refine their musical talents in a much smaller setting.
In the evening, students performed for an enraptured audience of approximately 600, the young musicians showcased their incredible skills, leaving the crowd in awe of their passion and dedication to jazz.
The significance of this festival reached new heights when the Mayoral Office of Cincinnati bestowed a proclamation, designating May 6, 2023, as “International Jazz Cooperation Day” in Cincinnati. This declaration served as a testament to the festival’s impact in fostering cultural understanding and international goodwill through the language of jazz. The proclamation was presented by Assistant Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney just as the evening performance began, setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
On the 9th of March, a remarkable event unfolded at the Aronoff Center for the Arts as more than 125 students from Cincinnati Public Schools took center stage at the International Jazz Festival. Representing over 20 schools within the CPS district, these talented young musicians were joined by acclaimed Japanese Violinist, Tomoko Omura, and numerous professional musicians from the Cincinnati region. The festival, a full-day celebration of jazz, offered enriching experiences to students and their families at absolutely no cost.
The festivities kicked off with a vibrant array of workshops and jam sessions, led by seasoned jazz artists. In these intimate settings, students had the invaluable opportunity to hone their musical skills under expert guidance. Exploring the nuances of jazz improvisation, rhythm, and harmony, they discovered new depths to their craft.
Before an enraptured audience of over 800 attendees, the young musicians mesmerized with their extraordinary talent, leaving spectators awestruck by their devotion to jazz. The evening unfolded as a harmonious fusion of solo showcases and collaborative ensembles, resonating with the universal language of music.
Through workshops, performances, and collaborative endeavors, the young musicians from Cincinnati embodied the transformative essence of jazz, transcending borders to cultivate connections and friendships. As the reverberations of their soulful performances lingered, they etched a lasting impression on the hearts of all who experienced this remarkable testament to harmony and unity.
The Jazz Festival, a free community event, was made achievable through the generous backing of The National Endowment for the Arts and their Challenge America grant, as well as support from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), a state agency committed to funding and enhancing quality arts experiences to enrich Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically through public investments. In addition, ABC extends heartfelt gratitude to Flip & Shelia Cohen for their unwavering support of this event, since its inception.
Saturday, March 8th, 2025, proved to be an amazing celebration of the arts, community, and passion. The CPS Jazz Academy was on stage at the Aronoff Center for the Arts for their 5th Annual International Jazz Festival with unforgettable performances from the talented young jazz musicians. We witnessed history being made as they brought their passions to life, with a world premiere of a thrilling new jazz composition, CityScape, and other great pieces! This festival was able to bring together over 150 talented musicians, as well as featuring star performances from Camille Thurman and Tanya Darby.
That evening the stage was set, the instruments tuned, and jazz was ready to flow to our audience of over 600 fellow music enthusiasts. A few days before this celebration of music, Mayor Aftab Pureval was able to witness the incredible talents of the CPS students and express his passion for arts in the Cincinnati community at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center. With this encouragement, the students were ready for the spotlight and delivered an immersive experience for audiences.
None of this could have been done without the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Isadore Rudnick, a continuous supporter of the arts. Dr. Rudnick wrote and conducted the world premiere piece CityScape. The 2025 Cincinnati Public Schools International Jazz Festival stands as a testament to the visionary leadership of CPS Fine Arts Director and a celebration of jazz music’s limitless capacity to forge bonds among communities worldwide. Dr. Rudnick’s steadfast commitment to nurturing the talents of students, combined with his extensive network within the jazz realm, has elevated this program into a remarkable showcase.
Everyone who participated and helped make this night unforgettable proved their commitment to their community and to the arts. The night proved to be one for the books, highlighting ABC’s mission for fostering the talents of Cincinnati youth and filled with wonderful music free for everyone to enjoy. ABC is beyond grateful for the incredible sponsors Flip and Shelia Cohen, Ohio Arts Council, Millstone Fund, Cincinnati Arts Association, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, who made the 5th Annual International Jazz Festival possible. Your generosity and support helped us create a night filled with extraordinary music, talented young artists, and a strong sense of community. Thanks to them, CPS’s gifted jazz musicians had an opportunity to shine on stage at the Aronoff Center and share their passions with the world. The festival would not have been the same without their talent and YOUR support, and we truly appreciate everyone who was able to show their love and commitment to the arts!
