For the 18th annual Rivers & RSC Jazz Festival, we are pleased to feature a brand new work composed especially for the Rivers Honors Jazz Ensemble. Renowned composer Greg Hopkins' work, titled Reflecting On Rivers, is inspired by the incongruity of the ingenious, creative free-thinking musician and realities of everyday existence in modern life, depicting a musical journey of triumph and celebration over uncertainty. 

Originally from Detroit, Greg Hopkins has been an active musician since 1965, where he has worked with prominent jazz artists including Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, and Frank Sinatra. He has taught and performed all over the world, in countries including Italy, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, and Argentina. Currently, Hopkins is a Professor of Jazz Composition at Berklee College of Music and performs with his band, The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra.

The Rivers & RSC Jazz Festival began in 2007 and is a full-day event filled with music performed by The Rivers School and the Rivers School Conservatory’s jazz ensembles. Over the years, the ensembles have performed tunes representing a variety of jazz styles, including bebop, fusion, and contemporary. Numerous world-class jazz artists have been featured at the festival, among them are Felipe Salles, Harvey Diamond, George Garzone, Bill Lowe, Donny McCaslin, New World Jazz Octet, Adam Niewood, Mario Pavone, and Bruno Råberg.