Jazz Ensembles
Jazz Combo
Jazz combo is the major performing ensemble for students majoring in jazz performance. Each semester, the jazz program averages six undergraduate combos and one graduate combo. Although combos consist primarily of jazz performance majors, anyone accepted through audition may participate.
Auditions are held on the first Monday of the fall and spring semesters at 3:00 p.m. in Dunham Hall, room 1114. Students are assembled into ad-hoc groups to perform for the jazz faculty and the other auditionees. At the minimum, students should be prepared to perform and improvise over a blues and a standard (“Autumn Leaves,” “Take the A Train,” “Blue Bossa,” etc.). Audition results are posted the same day on the bulletin board next to room 1113.
Undergraduate combo sections meet either Monday-Wednesday 3-4:50 p.m. or Tuesday-Thursday 3:30-5:20pm.
Graduate combo will schedule a meeting time based on instructor and group members' availability.
Concert Jazz Band
- Director: Garrett Schmidt
- Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-2:20 p.m.
- Room: Dunham Hall 1114
The Concert Jazz Band's mission is to study and perform music from America's most unique contribution to the arts: jazz music. It provides an opportunity for jazz performance majors, music majors and non-music majors alike to learn about significant contributors to the jazz idiom, perform classic and new jazz compositions, and develop the necessary skills to function as a unit providing an enjoyable listening experience to both the ensemble members and audience. The Concert Jazz Band can be heard on campus, as well as in venues in St. Louis like Jazz at the Bistro.
Jazz Guitar Ensemble
- Director: Rick Haydon
- Meeting Time: Mon/Wed 1-2:50 p.m.
- Room: Dunham Hall 1114
The Jazz Guitar Ensemble meets twice a week to work on concepts idiomatic to playing guitar in a jazz setting. Sight reading, improvisational concepts, technical studies and a thorough discussion of the lineage of jazz guitar greats will be covered.
