RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Improvise Arts is preparing to host the 2026 Black Hills Jazz Fest after receiving an Arts Investment Fund award to support the event. The festival will run April 22 through 25.
In addition to several ticketed performances, there will be 11 straight hours of free performances on April 25 at venues across Rapid City.
The festival is only one part of Improvise Arts programming. During the school year, the organization holds monthly jam sessions open to any high school students who want to attend.
The organization’s founder started Improvise Arts to fill a gap he experienced while growing up in Rapid City.
“I do this work because when I was in high school here in Rapid City, I had a lot of great music educators. What I didn’t have was an outside mentor to look up to or outside programs to attend,” said Alex Massa, founder of Improvise Arts.
Massa said jazz and other forms of improvisational music are highly collaborative and help students develop social and active listening skills.
“This music can be terrifying for some. To people who are afraid or who might be nervous or anxious, I encourage them to show up anyway. You don’t have to play right away. No one’s going to force you to play,” Massa said.
Students interested in Improvise Arts programming or people looking for tickets to Jazz Fest events can find more information on the organization’s website at improvisearts.org. Students can also reach out to their school’s music instructor to be connected with Massa to learn more.
You can watch the full interview with Massa, and see him show off his improvisational skills, in the videos above.
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