Jazz Ensembles
The JU Jazz Studies Program prioritizes the art of the jazz language. The ensembles in the program are designed as a working ground for the developing jazz improviser, not simply a place to read charts.
All the jazz ensembles enjoy at least two major on campus performances each academic year, as well as visits from major artists for clinics and masterclasses. The jazz ensembles also host an annual festival, tour, and regularly perform for on campus and community events.
JU Jazz Orchestra
The JU Jazz Orchestra is an open-ended big band approach, ranging in works from the traditional to the most modern, as well as compositions and arrangement from the instructor and students in the jazz writing and arranging course.
JU Jazz Combo I, Combo II, Combo III
The combos involve special projects that incorporate arrangements, transcriptions and compositions from both the faculty and students.
Annual JU Jazz Festival
The JU Jazz Festival is open to all high school and middle school jazz groups and provides a great opportunity for high quality critique and educational growth of your jazz ensembles.
OVERVIEW
The Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz & Commercial Music is a music performance degree that compliments JU鈥檚 music performance core with a combination of music business courses and a rigorous sequence of jazz theory/ improvisation courses, lecture courses, jazz ensembles and applied lessons. This program is designed to respond to the needs of the modern performer. Students will have an opportunity to glean from some of the leading faculty performers and composers in their respective fields, and develop the ability to perform, write, arrange, produce, record and market the results of their efforts in order to compete in an ever-evolving music industry.