John Bennum

John Bennum is a Reno‑born trombonist and arts administrator whose career blends performance, education, and leadership in Northern Nevada’s jazz scene. After discovering his great‑grandfather’s 1930s Bach Stradivarius trombone and a stack of big‑band records at age ten, Bennum’s passion for music led him to study at Northwestern University under members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra before touring nationally with rock and funk groups. Returning home, he joined the Reno Jazz Orchestra in 2017, later becoming Assistant Executive Director and, in 2022, the organization’s Executive Director, guiding its merger with the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra and expanding its educational outreach. His multifaceted background—spanning classical, jazz, and popular music—continues to shape the RJO’s mission of cultivating jazz excellence in the region.