Juneau Jazz and Classics was started in 1986 by Linda Rosenthal, a known violinist, who sought to bring classical music to remote Juneau. Linda, together with folk musician Bob Banghart and other musicians and community members, coordinated the first annual festival in May of 1987. The festival has since expanded to include Jazz, Blues, and Gospel music. Free and ticketed performances and workshops in various venues throughout Juneau comprise the 16 day festival.

Linda Rosenthal came from a family of amateur string musicians, and developed a love for playing the violin, beginning at age six. In 1969, she and her new husband, violinist Paul Rosenthal, drove up from California and ended up living permanently in Alaska, primarily in Southeast.

“The Sitka Summer Music Festival was founded in 1972 by violinist Paul Rosenthal, a then aspiring artist just completing instruction at the University of Southern California with master violinist Jascha Heifetz. Mr. Rosenthal, a native New Yorker, began playing violin at three. He studied with Dorothy DeLay at The Juilliard School, Ivan Galamian and Josef Gingold prior to coaching with Heifetz” [From the Sitka Summer Music Festival website].

Inspired by the success of Paul’s Sitka Summer Music Festival, Linda Rosenthal began forming a new idea for a music festival in Juneau. She worked with Bob Banghart and other community members to create a festival that would bring prominent classical, jazz, and blues musicians to Juneau annually. The Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival originated from that plan. Through the years the festival has grown from a five day event to 16 days. It not only includes performances by world-renowned musicians but also includes artists leading workshops and spending time in schools and other public places to bring music to those who may not otherwise have an opportunity to hear it.

[From Juneau Empire articles by Amy Fletcher (9/2/2015, 11/11/2010) and an Alaska Dispatch News article by Mike Dunham (2/5/2011)]

See also: Alaska Historical Collections’ Masterfile for more biographical information about Linda and Paul Rosenthal, directors and founders of several music festivals in Alaska.