Jazz & Beyond 2026 - Poster Art Contest Winners Announced
Media Release: May 29, 2026

The Jazz & Beyond festival committee has selected winners of the 2026 art contest. The contest this year is sponsored by the Mile High Jazz Band Association and the Nevada Artists Association (NAA). First place winner Carol Foldvary-Anderson's design, "Celebrate Jazz USA," will be featured on festival poster, program cover, and T-shirt. Second place winner is Michelle Bowler for "Jazz in Color," and third place was awarded to Nikki Olson-George for "Rhythm Road." These were selected from 12 entries to highlight the 23rd annual Carson City music festival, August 14 through 23, 2026.

The original artworks submitted for the contest will be on display at the NAA Gallery, 449 W. King Street, and will be raffled off during the festival. They are individually valued at $60 to $500 and feature digital, acrylic, watercolor, photography, and mixed media artworks. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the NAA Gallery and at each concert. The winning tickets will be drawn at the closing concert on August 23. The winners need not be present.

The Jazz & Beyond festival will include 25 free concerts at various Carson City venues. It opens with the Reno Jazz Orchestra led by its exciting music director and arranger, Dr. Greg Johnson, on Friday, August 14, outdoors at the Governor's Mansion.

The Country-themed "An Afternoon at the Silver Saddle Ranch" with music, cowboy poetry, and mule rides will be on Sunday, August 16. Some festival highlights are the dynamic 6-piece Latin-jazz ensemble, No Comprende, on Tuesday, August 18, at McFadden Plaza; Lucky Diamond and the Incontinentals and Cherie and John Shipley's Take This on Wednesday, August 19, at the Bliss Mansion; Mile High Jazz Band's Basie's Birthday concert on Friday, August 21; and the all-female big-band, Sapphire Jazz Ensemble on Sunday, August 23.

The full schedule of events on the websites Jazzcarsoncity.com and Milehighjazz.com will be updated frequently. Annual Jazz & Beyond Festivals are presented by the Mile High Jazz Band Association and are supported by grants from Carson City, the Nevada Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, and by private donations.

Photos: Winning artworks for the 2026 Jazz & Beyond Festival contest are (L to R) first place "Celebrate Jazz USA," second place "Jazz in Color," and third place "Rhythm Road." These and nine other entries will be raffled during the festival.

A Brief look at the 2026 Festival
Updated: May 29, 2926

The 2026 Jazz & Beyond Music Festival is proud to present a calendar of events for August 2026. The festival starts Friday, Aug. 14, and ends Sunday, Aug. 23. To download a PDF of the schedule, click HERE.

Here's a peak at the schedule:

Jazz & Beyond 2026 Merchandise - Shirts & Hats
Posted: Aug. 1, 2026

Jazz & Beyond 2026 merchandise (shirts and hats) are available, and we appreciate your donation for same. If you wish to make such a donation, you may use this link to Square: click HERE.

For a direct link to Square: type https://square.link/u/WCODfqUa

Jazz & Beyond 2026 Art Contest Announced
Media release: March 10, 2026

Mile High Band Association's 2026 Jazz & Beyond Festival Committee and the Nevada Artists Association (NAA) are sponsoring an art contest for northern Nevada artists, including teachers and students. Selected entries in the competition may be used to promote the festival, and will be displayed at the NAA Gallery during the festival, August 14 to 23.

The winning entry will be featured on the festival's advertising poster, program cover, and festival T-shirts. The entry deadline is Friday, May 15, 2026. Participation is free. Entry forms will be available for download from jazzcarsoncity.com.

The artwork will be judged by a Jazz & Beyond committee. The winner of the competition will receive a certificate of appreciation from the Jazz & Beyond - Carson City Music Festival and a cash award of $500. Art Contest Coordinator Alexander Cassimus said, "The artist's work will be front and center, viewed by thousands of festival patrons."

Artists may submit more than one entry. Artwork must be 11"x14" (portrait or landscape) and may be in any two-dimensional medium (photography, digital collage and photography, watercolor, acrylic, oil, etc.). Artwork must be matted, backed, and submitted in a protective sleeve. The design should relate to music. Each submission requires a separate entry form.

Artists are asked to deliver their entries by Friday, May 15, to the NAA Gallery, 449 W. King Street, Carson City, Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m., or contact Alexander Cassimus at 408-264-4423 or away4@earthlink.net for other options.

The entry form and a photo or digital image of the artwork (not to exceed 20 MB) must also be sent as an email attachment to jazzcarsoncity@gmail.com

For more information about the contest and entry forms, contact Alexander Cassimus at 408-264-4423 or away4@earthlink.net. Entry forms are also available by clicking HERE.

Photo: Jazz & Beyond Committee member Alex Cassimus (left) and artist Katelyn Lehmann show winning artwork, "Sights & Sounds," used for the 2025 Jazz & Beyond flyer, program, and T-shirt.

Jazz & Beyond festival (Aug. 14 to 23, 2026)
First Planning Meeting
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

Thur., Jan. 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. is the date of the first Jazz & Beyond planning meeting for the 23rd Annual Jazz & Beyond Music Festival. If you are part of the planning committee, please mark it in your calendars. It will be at the Carriage House, behind the Foreman-Roberts House at 1207 N. Carson St., Carson City.

If you wish to participate in this planning meeting or any other planning meeting over Zoom, please contact David Bugli at dcbugli@aol.com.

[Update 3/30/2026: Since the writing of this article, subsequent meetings have happened. We are happy to note that we may have filled our whole schedule this early in the planning process. Further updates will be posted as we get final confirmations from the musicians.]