The 60th annual Reno Jazz Festival kicks off with a captivating performance by rising star jazz vocalist, composer and educator, Michael Mayo performing alongside the University of Nevada Reno's faculty ensemble, The Collective. Michael Mayo is gifted with perfect pitch, an inspirational improvisor and is one of only three vocalists admitted to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, where he received his MFA.

Members of The Collective, recognized as one of the most imaginative and distinctive jazz ensembles in the northwestern United States, comprise the core of the University of Nevada Reno’s Program in Jazz and Improvisation. Each are recognized touring artists and exceptional educators.