Annual Jazz Festival 2025

Jazz Fest at The Wharf is ON!

We are thrilled to present the Mike Stern Quintet for our 34th annual Jazz Festival!

Buttonwood Nature Center, home of The Institute presents our annual jazz festival, which continues to spotlight top professional artists each year that light up the outdoor stage with hot summer jazz.

As always, admission is free. We are back at the same great location this year, The Wharf (10141 Wharf Road, Waynesboro, PA).

One of the top guitarists in jazz since his breakthrough days with Miles Davis’ celebrated comeback band of the early 1980s, Mike Stern has earned the respect of colleagues and critics alike while also exerting a towering influence on a generation of aspiring players.

Stern is a six-time Grammy nominee and a living legend (as “certified” by Guitar Player magazine). In addition to Miles Davis, his background includes stints with Billy Cobham, Blood Sweat & Tears, Joe Henderson, the Brecker Brothers, and David Sanborn.  His influences range from the straight ahead jazz of Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall to Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King.

A guitarist of formidable technique, Stern continues to awe and inspire six-string aficionados with his seamless blend of bebop facility, scorching rock intensity and uncommon lyricism.

As Jon Chappell of Guitar magazine noted, “Stern is not only a magician of the fretboard but a heartfelt and mature composer of great depth.”

By combining the legato approach of jazz saxophone greats like John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson with a few touches from the rock camp, Stern has successfully fashioned a singular voice that comfortably occupies both rock and jazz worlds.

For this concert, Stern brings with him a powerhouse ensemble of internationally recognized musicians, forming the Mike Stern Quintet:

Bob Franceschini (saxophone) – A versatile and commanding voice on sax, Franceschini has performed with Victor Wooten, Paul Simon, Willie Colón, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Tower of Power. His playing draws from both jazz and Latin traditions, delivering fiery solos and intricate melodic lines.

Edmond Gilmore (bass) – Known for his soulful groove and dynamic range, Gilmore has worked across jazz, gospel, and R&B genres and has played with symphony orchestras and musicians as diverse as drummer Bob Moses and composer Steve Reich. His deep rhythmic sense anchors the band with elegance and power.

Juan Chiavassa (drums) – A rising star originally from Argentina, Chiavassa brings rhythmic innovation and global influences to every performance. He’s a go-to drummer for forward-thinking jazz and fusion artists across Europe and the U.S., and has collaborated with Paquito D’Rivera, Esperanza Spalding, Mike Stern, Russell Malone, and Pedrito Martinez, to name just a few.

Leni Stern (guitar, vocals, n’goni) – A pioneering voice in jazz and world music and jazz fusion, Leni Stern blends African rhythms, jazz harmonies, and personal storytelling in a deeply original style. A celebrated musician who has recorded over 20 albums of her own as a leader and has collaborated with Bill Frisell, Esperanza Spalding, Jack DeJohnnette, Salif Keita, Leo Genovese, David Sanborn, and so many others. She joins Mike Stern as a special guest, adding both vocals and second guitar to this exceptional group.

Admission is free. Rain location is Waynesboro Area Middle School.

Click here to see a list of ALL the performers in our 34 years of Jazz Fest!

Free parking is available on the property. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, and picnics are welcome. Cold water will be available free to attendees.

Underwriting support for this event is provided by our Premier Sponsor, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The funds were received via a Flex Fund grant from the Cultural Alliance of York County, Pa. Further support by the Hamilton Family Foundation on behalf of Hamilton Nissan; Bev McFarland in memory of Tom McFarland; Rent In Waynesboro.com; Franklin County Visitors Bureau; Dave & Joyce Thompson, and Waynesboro Community Concert Association.

Additional support from our Today’s Horizon Fund contributors: The Nora Roberts Foundation; the late Alma W. Oyer; Marge Kiersz; APX Enclosures; Don Gibe and Nancy Erlanson; and the family of the late Carolyn Terry Eddy, with daughters Connie Fleagle & Kim Larkin. Facility support provided courtesy of Jeff and Nancy Mace.