MGS Presents Twin Cites DJANGOFEST 2026

MGS is excited to announce we have partnered with Ryan Picone to present

Twin Cities DjangoFest 2026!

This festival will be held at the Hook and Ladder Theatre and Lounge on July 24, 2026, and will showcase local legends and artists. Doors open at 5pm, show is from 6pm to 12pm

Come celebrate the talent in our own community and hear the music of the legendary guitarist, Django Reinhardt, from the Twin Cities best!

Tickets are available on the Hook and Ladder website

About the Twin Cities DjangoFest Director

Ryan Picone is a performer and guitar instructor with twenty years of professional experience. He has performed professionally at many venues, including Town Hall-New York, Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, and South by Southwest-Texas. Ryan’s teaching experience comes from his involvement with guitar programs at academic institutions and nonprofit organizations, including College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, Glendale Community College, Arizona State University, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Guitar Society, Sounds Academy, and Lead Guitar.

After completing his master's degree with guitarist Frank Koonce at Arizona State University, Ryan went on to study with Lorenzo Micheli in Lugano, Switzerland, at Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana. When Ryan returned to the US, he worked with jazz guitarist Howard Alden before moving to Minneapolis to continue his education.

Ryan completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Minnesota with a secondary focus in composition in Spring 2023 under Alex Lubet, Guerino Mazzola, Matt Rahaim and Scott Currie. Ryan since March 2020 has been studying with film composer Stephane Wrembel and is still under his mentorship.

Ryan started teaching at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University as the new guitar professor in 2022. Then in Fall of 2023, Ryan received a fulltime position as the director of Jazz Studies at CSBSJU.