News Release 
July 17, 2018
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Rochester International Jazz Festival Announces New Title Sponsor
Rochester, NY—July 17, 2018—John Nugent and Marc Iacona, co-owners of RIJF, LLC and co-producers of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, one of the world’s leading jazz festivals, announced today that CGI Communications will be the festival's new title sponsor.

“CGI will succeed Xerox Corporation, which has been the festival’s title sponsor since 2009,” said Marc Iacona, festival co-producer and executive director. “We thank the Xerox team for 10 years of outstanding partnership and are grateful for all their support that engaged our fans and  enhanced the festival’s mission in countless ways."   

The festival, which just wrapped up its nine-day 17 th edition on June 30 with 208,000 record attendance, will now be called the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival Presented by M&T Bank.

Established in 1987, CGI Communications, Inc. is a leader in digital marketing solutions. Headquartered in Rochester, NY, CGI Communications, Inc. employs over 350 full-time staff with branch offices in Chicago, Indianapolis, Richmond, Louisville, and Knoxville. Having fully produced over 250,000 videos for municipalities, chambers of commerce, counties, associations, and local businesses across the country, CGI constantly evolves with changing technology to create new and interesting initiatives to promote communities and organizations.

“CGI is growing and has made a significant commitment to downtown Rochester, where our festival has been based since it was founded in 2002,” said Iacona. “We are pleased to welcome them as a new sponsor and look forward to their support as we continue to invest in what has become one of the nation’s leading jazz festivals.”
CGI Communications CEO and Chairman of the Board, Bob Bartosiewicz, said, “If it’s about Downtown Rochester, it’s important to CGI. And nothing screams Downtown Rochester more than the Rochester International Jazz Festival. CGI is thrilled to be the new title sponsor of this incredible event. Because for us, this is not about business; this is about our city and our community. It’s about fun, it’s about interaction, and it’s about coming together for a common cause, which is the growth and vitality of our wonderful city.”

The 17 th edition 2018 festival, which was held June 22-30, drew more than 208,000 people to downtown Rochester for nine days of extraordinary music with 1500-plus artists from around the world performing in 320 shows at 20 venues. 

Planning is already underway for the 18 th Edition, which will be held June 21-29, 2019. The full 2019 lineup will be announced in March 2019. Club Passes will go on sale in October of this year.

Download new CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival Presented by M&T Bank logo: JPG | PDF
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Tower of Power, performed June 30, 2018 at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Photo for RIJF by Mark Druziak.
The Rochester International Jazz Festival (RIJF) is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals. From legendary performers and familiar favorites, to rising stars and new discoveries, RIJF navigates all genres of creative improvised music from all corners of the world. 

Founded in 2002 in Rochester, NY, the multi-dimensional nine-day festival is held annually in downtown Rochester, NY and presents more than 1500 artists from around the world in 320+ shows at 20 venues. Attendance has grown from 15,000 in 2002 to 208,000 in 2018. Economic impact delivered to the region now exceeds $180 million. In addition to a headliner series and Club Pass Series of 220+ shows, the festival also presents more than 90 free shows and events including nightly jam sessions and workshops for young musicians. RIJF’s jazz scholarship program has awarded almost $500,000 in scholarships to 40 students entering Eastman School of Music.  Read more

RIJF is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company owned by John Nugent and Marc Iacona. Nugent, Producer and Artistic Director, is a noted tenor sax player, who has traveled the world with many jazz artists including Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, The Woody Herman Orchestra and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Marc Iacona, Producer and Executive Director, is a Rochester native and President of Simcona Electronics. A business and community leader, he is an avid trumpeter and supporter of the arts.
Miles Electric Band, performed June 29, 2018 at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. Photo for RIJF by Dick Bennett.
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