Mission statement: Juneau Jazz & Classics is a music festival that builds community through adventurous musical experiences, purposeful arts education, and comprehensive community involvement with professional musicians.
Vision: Access to world-class music for everyone in Juneau
History
In 1986 world-renowned violinist Linda Rosenthal had a dream to share the music she loves with her community. The combination of a beautiful natural setting with the community’s love and support for music, make Juneau the perfect place for a spectacular celebration of world-class jazz and classical music. In May of 1987, Ms. Rosenthal along with Jazz Coordinator and fellow-founder Bob Banghart and a hard-working group of local musicians, community leaders and loyal supporters of the arts, launched the 1st annual Juneau Jazz & Classics. The Festival has evolved and expanded each year, touching so many lives with an appreciation and love for classical, jazz and blues music.
Each year JJ&C continues to provide high quality performances, educational concerts, instructional workshops and outreach programs that benefit people of all ages, capabilities and economic backgrounds. JJ&C is excited to bring the worlds of jazz, classical and blues to our Juneau community with live performances and interaction with great artists.
Zuill Bailey, Artistic Director
Cellist Zuill Bailey is widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world. His rare combination of celebrated artistry and technical wizardry as well as his engaging personality has secured his place as one of the most sought after and active cellists today. Bailey received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and the Juilliard School. His primary teachers include Loran Stephenson, Stephen Kates and Joel Krosnick. Zuill Bailey performs on a 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello, formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet. In addition to his extensive touring engagements and recording schedule, Bailey is the Artistic Director for four presenting organizations: Juneau Jazz & Classics, the Sitka Music Festival, El Paso Pro Musica (Texas) and the Northwest Bach Festival in Spokane. He is also Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Sandy Fortier, Executive Director
Sandy Fortier grew up in Colorado and lived in Oregon before moving to Alaska in 2009. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s in Arts Administration with a Performing Arts focus and a Nonprofit Certificate from the University of Oregon.
Sandy Fortier is a flutist and vocalist and is a founding member of the local flute quartet Flutatious. When she is not performing, teaching, and championing the arts, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Luke Fortier, and their two young daughters.
Rachel Disney, Operations Assistant
Rachel grew up in GA and found her way to Alaska in search of snow. She received her degree in Theatre in 2007 before becoming a stay at home mom. She's worked in many different fields and worn many hats, but her love of art continues to bring her back to her passions-music, writing, and voice.
She's excited to be part of the team at JJ&C and when she isn't busy with emails and organizing, you'll find her hanging out with her daughter and reading a good book.
Linda Rosenthal
Concert violinist Linda Rosenthal has lived in Alaska since 1969 and in Juneau since 1974. Linda currently maintains a busy schedule performing and teaching. She has appeared throughout North America, Europe and Asia in recitals, as a soloist with orchestras and as a chamber musician. She is also Artistic Director of the Lake Placid Chamber Music Seminar and Professor of Music at the University of Alaska Southeast.
In 1995, Linda was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to create and premiere Strings & Stories, a two-person show for young audiences that combines storytelling, theater, mime and music for solo violin. She, along with Los Angeles actor Bill Blush, perform this show in schools, libraries, museums and theaters for thousands of children across the country each year under the auspices of the New York based Piatigorsky Foundation.
Linda has commissioned and premiered many works for solo violin, electric violin, violin and piano and violin and narrator. Her solo CDs include Three American Sonatas, Favorite Violin Encores, Fiddle-de-Bop and Glacier Blue—Concerto For Violin and Big Band by Evan Solot, commissioned by Juneau Jazz & Classics in 2000.
Linda received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1978 and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska Southeast in 2005.
Board of Directors
Laura Haywood – Chair
Kristin Garot – Vice Chair
Shelly Wright – Treasurer
Judith Mitchell – Secretary
Lon Garrison
Jacob Soboleff
Janet Schempf
Sara Stekoll
Past Artists
Jazz, Blues, and Cabaret Artists
Air Force Band of the Pacific1994, 2011
Anat Cohen Quartet 2009
Andrew "Jr.Boy" Jones Band 2017
Anton Schwartz Quartet 2014
Arlo Guthrie 2013
The Bad Plus 2008
Balfa Toujours1999
Barney McClure Trio 2003, 2012
Beale Street Jazz Band1998
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones1995
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn 2016
Ben Thomas, vibes 2004
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 2015
Bill Sears 2017
Billy Taylor Trio1997
Blind Boys of Alabama1996
Bob Mintzer Quartet2002
Booker T. Jones, vocals, organ & guitar 2013
Bria Skonberg Quintet 2015
Bruce Paulson’s LA Allstars 2000
Butch Thompson Trio 2008
California Honeydrops 2012
Campbell Brothers 2006
Carla Cook, vocalist 2006
Carmen McRae, vocalist 1991
Carolyn Wonderland Band 2016
Charlie Hunter, guitar 2001
Charlie Musselwhite, harmonica 2008
Chelsey Green and the Green Project 2023
Chenille Sisters 2002
Chuck Cooper, cabaret 2011
Claire Daly Quintet 2011
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown1995
Cyril Neville & the Uptown Allstars with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & Joseph Hill of the Golden Eagles 2005
Curtis Salgado Band 2015
Cyrus Chestnut, pianist 2004
Darol Anger & & Mike Marshall Duo 2003
Dave Brubeck Quartet1988
David Bromberg Quintet 2014
Dee Daniels, vocalist 2012
Diana Krall Trio1998
Dirty Dozen Brass Band 2004
Doug Deming & the JewelTones 2018
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio 2007
Duffy Bishop, vocalist 2006
Duke Ellington Orchestra1990
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers 2011
Ernestine Anderson, vocalist1995
Free Flight1987, 1992
Gary Motley Trio 2017-2018
Gonzalo Bergara Trio 2019
Grace Kelly Quintet 2013
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals 2007
Greta Matassa Quintet1993
Helen Baldassare and Bobby Peaco, cabaret1998, 1999, 2001
Heritage Hall Jazz Band1994
Holmes Brothers 2005
Hot Club of Cowtown 2012
Hot Tuna Acoustic Trio 2008
Ingrid Jensen, trumpet & flugelhorn 2010
Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele 2013
Jaimee Paul Band with Leif Shires 2019
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque 2022
Jay McShann, piano and vocals1992
Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham & the
Sweet Baby Blues Band 1999
Jeff Antoniuk & the Jazz Update 2010
Jerry Hahn, guitar1989
Joe Lewis Walker & the Bosstalkers 2001
John Handy, saxophonist 1989
Johnaye Kendrick, vocalist 2018
Johnnie Johnson, piano1998
Johnny Nocturne Band1997
Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band 2023
Judy Carmichael Trio, 2021
Justin Smith & the Bluesband1998
Kal David & the Real Deal 2009
King Louie & LaRhonda Steele 2019
Kinsey Report 2003
Lannie Garrett, cabaret 2008
Larry Coryell Trio 2005
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers 2012
Leftover Salmon 2003
Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials 2013
Little Charlie & the Nightcats 2002
Lorraine Feather, vocalist 2013
M*Pact 2002
Manhattan Brass 2009
Manhattan Transfer 2014
Marian McPartland, piano1994
Mark O'Connor Band 2019
Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns 2014
Mavis Staples 2016
Matt Herskowitz, 2022
Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts 2006
Mingus Amungus 2000
Mose Allison Trio1999
Nancy King, vocalist 1989
Nikki Hill Band 2014
Nnenna Freelon, vocalist 2003
Obo Addy and Kukrudu1993
Pacific Fleet's Big Wave Brass Band 2022
Paul deLay Band1996, 2006
Pearl Django 2009
Phil Wiggins Blues House Party 2023
Pink Martini 2015
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band1990, 2011
Rachel Price Quartet 2007
Randy Sabien & the Fiddlehead Blues Band1997
Rhonda Ross & Rodney Kindrick 2018
Rich Cole and Alto Madness1988
Richard Thompson 2017
Rob Thomas Quintet1989
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats 2011
Robert Cohen Trio1992
Roger Neumann & the Headliners with vocalist Madeline Vergari 2005
Roy Hargrove Quintet1996
Royal Crown Revue 2010
Russell Ferrante, piano 2013
Ruthie Foster, vocalist 2010
Shelly Watson, 2020
Studebaker John & the Hawks 2000
Subdudes 2009
Taj Mahal Trio 2012
Tommy Castro Band 2004
Too Slim & the Taildraggers 2007
Toshiko Akiyoshi Quartet1991
The Congress 2017
The Defibulators 2017
The Rad Trads 2016
The Trenchcoats1998
Turtle Island String Quartet1993
The Jones Family Singers 2015
The Revelers 2015
US Marine Band Jazz Combo 2007, 2012, 2016, 2022
Yoboso1996
Other
Brett Dillingham, storyteller1994
Bruce Adolphe, composer 2007‐2009
Christian Swenson, human jazz movement 2003
Evan Solot, composer 2000
Kevin Hoggard, improvisational comedy 1995
Lynette Turner, dancer/storyteller 1995,1996
Mike Block Trio, world/folk/classical 2023
On Ensemble, contemporary taiko 2007
Patricia Hull, narrator 2007
Shelly Watson, variety 2022
Red Grammer, family & children’s music 2006
Trout Fishing in America, family & children’s music 2005
Classical Artist
Akropolis Reed Quintet 2014
Alan Chow, piano1996, 1997, 1999,
2001, 2005
Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet 2008
Alexandra Browning, soprano1997
Allan Vogel, oboe1994
American String Quartet1999
Andrew Beall, percussion 2007
Andrew Kim, cello 2003
Andrey Tchekmazov, cello 2014
Annaliesa Place, violin 2003, 2006
Anthony Elliott, cellist1989
Apollo Trio 2008
Argus String Quartet 2019
Arianna String Quartet 2022
Armen Ksajiklan, cello1996, 1997, 2001
Arnulf von Arnim, pianist 2014
Attacca String Quartet 2014
Avalon String Quartet 2012
Awadagin Pratt, piano1994, 2011, 2016, 2023
Axiom Brass Quintet 2017
Boston Brass 2003
Bradley Howard, tenor 2018
Brett Deubner, viola 2005
Calder Quartet 2023
Candace Goetz, soprano1988, 1989
Catalyst String Quartet 2015
Charles Castleman, violinist1998, 1990
Christopher Kenniff, guitar 2005
Daedalus String Quartet 2007
Daniel Epstein, pianist1987, 1990
David Austin, cello1998
David Bilger, trumpet1995
David Brown, double bass 2007, 2008
David Coucheron, violin 2017
David Kappy, French horn 2007
Dean Epperson, pianist 1988
Dimitris Kotronakis, guitarist 2014
Douglas Webster, baritone1999, 2001
Eliot Fisk, guitar 2019
Elizabeth Pridgen 2017
Eroica Trio 2018
Evan Drachman, cello 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013,2015
Evelyn De La Rosa, soprano1990
Fischer Duo‐Norman Fischer,cello & Jeanne Kierman Fischer, piano 2010
Francesco Trio 1991
Gary Bovyer, clarinetist1995
George Shangrow, pianist1991
Gilles Apap, violin2009
Guy Few, trumpet & piano 2000
Gwen Thompson, violin 1996, 2001, 2005
Harumi Rhodes, violin 2009
Harvey Pittel, saxophone 1992
Helen Hwaya Kim, violin 2021
Igor Begelman, clarinet 2003, 2007
Ilian Iliev, clarinet 2000
Inessa Zaretsky, piano 2003
James Logan, clarinet 2023
Janet Clippard, double bass 2017
Jasmin Arakawa, piano 2021
Jason Vieaux, 2021
Jasper String Quartet 2010, 2011, 2013
Jeffrey Agrell, French horn 2002
Jeffrey Levine, double bass1995
Jeffrey Siegel, piano 2003
Jeffrey Solow, cello 2012
Jessica Chang 2017
John Duykers, tenor1991
John Ferrari, percussion 2008
Jon Klibonoff, piano 2000
Jose Franch‐Ballester, clarinet 2013
Joseph Petric, accordion 2000
Jubilant Sykes, baritone 2005
Julie Coucheron, piano 2017-2019
Juneau Brass Quintet1997
Jungshin Lim Lewis, cellist1989
Kate Ransom, violin 2018
Katherine Collier, pianist 1987
Lara St. John, violin 2022
Larisa Gelman, bassoon 2003, 2007
Lark Quartet 2000
Laura Dern, pianist2013
Laura Klugherz, violin, viola1990, 2006
Lauren Skuce, soprano 2008
Lee Duckles, cello1990
Leo Saguiguit, saxophone 2017
Liesel Fedkenheuer, mezzo‐soprano 2002
Lincoln Mayorga, piano1992, 1993, 2001
Linda Rosenthal, violinist1987‐2001, 2004‐2006, 2009, 2011, 2012
Lisa Bergman, piano1990
Luke Fleming, viola 2018
Lynn Stodola, piano1992‐1994, 2004,
2006
Mark Steinburg, violin 2008
Marco Granados, flute 2008
Marija Stroke, piano 2007, 2008, 2009
Marina Piccinini, flute1993
Marni Nixon, soprano1993
Mary Ruth Ray, viola1998, 2004, 2006
Matt Herskowitz, piano 2022
Maximilian Dimoff, double bass1994
Maxim Pakhomov 2016
Meliora Winds1999
Melvin Flood, flute1991, 1997
Meridian Arts Ensemble1992
Miah Im, piano 2002
MIDORI, violin 2015
Michael Newman & Laura Oltman, guitar duo1989
Michele Bovyer, violinist1995
Mika Stoltzman, marimba 2018
Misha Amory, viola 2008
Myron Romanul, piano1998
New Century Saxophone Quartet1996
Paul Rosenthal, viola, violin 1998, 2001, 2006, 2009‐ 2015
Perry Dreiman, percussionist 1995
Peter Marsh, viola1992
Philippe Djokic, violin 1992‐ 1994, 1998,
2004, 2006
Philippe Etter, viola1996
Philip Lewis, violinist 1987, 1989
Prairie Winds 2004
Quartetto Gelato1996, 2001
Raphael Trio1995
Richard Dowling, piano 2011, 2013, 2016
Richard Stoltzman, clarinet 2018
Robert Belinic, guitar 2013
Robert Bonfigilo harmonica1994
Robert Dan, viola1991, 1993‐ 1995
Robert Dick & Ursel Schlicht 2010
Robert McCoy, pianist1988, 1989
Rose Corrigan, bassoonist 1995
Russell Guyver, violist 1988, 1989
Scott Thornburg, trumpet1991
Shari Rhodes, piano 2002
Sharon Isbin, guitar 2002
Simply Three, string trio 2022
Stephen Williams, trombonist 1995
Steven Heyman, piano 2005
Susan Salm, cellist1987, 1988, 1992‐
1994, 1998, 2004, 2006
Svet Stoyanov, marimba & percussion 2006
Tadeu Coelho, flute 2007
Theodore DeCorso, clarinet1989
Toby Twining Music 1995
Third Coast Percussion 2016
Trio Pacifica 2002
Vega Quartet 2016-2018
Victor Asunción 2015
Viveza1997
Vivica Genaux, mezzo‐soprano1998
Volante Winds 2019
William Kanengiser, guitar1993
William Ransom, piano 2017-2019
WindSync 2015
Yizhak Schotten, violist1987
Yoni Levyatov, piano 2012
Zuill Bailey 2012-2023