University of North Texas

UNT's Grammy-nominated One O'Clock Lab Band has an exciting summer in store – they are recording a new album and heading to Australia.

"Our student musicians will assist in leading concerts and clinics at the James Morrison Academy, perform for thousands of jazz students from all across Australia as featured headliner at the Generations of Jazz Festival, and collaborate with numerous jazz professionals and jazz orchestras from Australia and around the world," said One O'Clock Lab Band Director Jay Saunders. "This is a major recruiting opportunity for the College of Music."

This trip marks the 30th anniversary of the One O'Clock Lab Band's last trip to Australia in 1986. While they intended to return 15 years ago, plans fell through. Two years ago, the band was invited back again and they have been preparing for the event ever since.

"This trip is a long time coming," said Craig Marshall, program manager for the band. "Planning and securing funding have been quite a project. Now we're fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend two weeks playing concerts, hosting clinics and masterclasses for the festival and expanding our cultural knowledge."

To kick-off their adventures, they will premiere brand new pieces to be recorded on the upcoming album Lab 2016 at 7:30 p.m. May 2 in McDavid Studio at Bass Performance Hall, 301 E 5th St., Fort Worth. They will leave for Australia the following day, spending two weeks playing, teaching and taking in the cultural aspects of Melbourne and Sydney. They return May 17 only to have to prepare for a concert on the 20th, and a three-day recording session starting May 22.

"This trip is not a vacation," Saunders said. "We will hold rehearsals throughout our time in Australia so that we're prepared for the Lab 2016 recording sessions when we return to the US. This is a professional development opportunity of a lifetime."

About the UNT College of Music

The College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the world. Approximately 1,500 music students attend the college each year, participating in nearly 70 widely varied ensembles while engaged in specialized studies in performance, composition, conducting, jazz studies, music education, music history, music theory or ethnomusicology. Music students, alumni and faculty have made appearances on the world's finest stages, have produced numerous recordings with many receiving Grammy awards and nominations, and have written influential texts in a variety of areas in music scholarship. Distinguished University alumni can be found around the globe in top music ensembles, opera companies, universities, and schools.

 -- Courtney Taylor, News Promotion