The Rio Americano High School Jazz Band program hosted the 30th Annual Jazz Festival at their school Jan. 26. Hundreds of people showed up to support 14 jazz bands from throughout the San Juan Unified School District.

“The biggest thing in the last couple of years is that we have been getting more elementary schools entering,” Rio Americano High School Jazz Band Director Josh Murray said. “I can’t tell you how excited we are about that. To see young, really young kids involved in jazz and starting at such a young age, as a high school teacher, that’s thrilling.”

The non-competitive festival was renamed the Wayne Reimers Jazz Festival this year, after Wayne Reimers, the founder of the festival. It was previously called the Carmichael Kiwanis Jazz Festival in recognition of the major sponsor.