19th Edition Canceled for June—Producers Working to Reschedule

April 2, 2020

Rochester, NY— CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival Producers Marc Iacona and John Nugent announced today that the festival's 19th edition, originally scheduled for June 19-27, will be canceled on those dates due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but that they are working hard to reschedule the festival to fall of 2020.

Iacona and Nugent said,

"In the past two weeks since we announced our 2020 festival lineup, our world has been turned upside down. The health crisis we are experiencing has resulted in significant loss of life and illness, growing fear, and unprecedented disruption in all aspects of our lives.

During this time we have been communicating around the clock with artists and other festivals around the world, as we are all in similar circumstances, trying to determine what we can and cannot do.

Most importantly, we have been closely communicating with the City of Rochester and Monroe County and its Department of Public Health. It is with a very heavy heart that we announce today that we must cancel our 19th edition festival for June 19-27. This is a matter of public safety. We need to do our part to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep our community safe.

We are however doing everything in our power to reschedule the festival and present it this fall. That is our objective at this time. We are in communication with all venues. We will be offering all artists in our headliner, club pass and free show series a new slot on our schedule. Artists are anxious to work and perform. This is their life and mission as it is ours. So, during the next few weeks, we will be working hard to rearrange this schedule.

We cannot tell you how devastated we are to have to do this – emotionally, spiritually and artistically – especially at a time when we need music the most.

Although the music is not going to play June 19-27, we are going to do everything in our power to make it play this fall.

As we have been doing throughout this difficult time, we will continue to communicate with you and keep you informed of our progress. We thank you for your support, patience and understanding."

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Top official resources in Rochester to consult to keep yourself and others healthy.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Monroe County (NY) Department of Health

New York State Department of Health

Rochester Regional Health COVID-19