About 200 local musicians spent Saturday at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons in a celebration of jazz music as part of the R.K. Downs Jazz Festival.

The event brought together Santa Clarita Valley high school jazz bands, the College of the Canyons Studio Jazz Ensemble — led by COC music director KC Manji — and the California Institute of the Arts Salsa Band.

“It’s great to unite the jazz bands of the Santa Clarita Valley high schools and colleges,” said Floyd Moos, dean of fine and performing arts at COC. “There’s a real festival feel.”

The festival returned Saturday after a one-year hiatus. The event was established decades ago to honor former local music instructor R.K. Downs.

Event organizers estimated about 600 music-lovers attended the day-long event.

For many of the high school bands, the festival gives the musicians a chance to hear each other play in front of an audience.

Nearly 20 Valencia High School jazz band students performed at the festival.

Valencia students regularly perform at the annual event, said John Roberts, Valencia jazz band director.

“The more they perform, the better they get,” he said.

The annual festival serves as a prelude to the traditional spring band competition season.

“It’s a great chance for them to get the jitters out,” Roberts said.

For Moos, the festival is another way for young musicians to showcase a popular form of music.

“I look forward to the young musicians getting a chance to perform in a big house on a large stage,” Moos said. “I look forward to the continued renewal of big band music and jazz.”