Division of Jazz Studies

Congratulations to UNT students, ensembles, and faculty mentors for their recognition in the 2016 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards! Prof. Jennifer Barnes is recognized by DownBeat this year with an Education Achievement Award.

jazz.unt.edu/downbeat

Join the Concert Orchestra and conductor Clay Couturiaux on April 20 at 8:00pm for the highly-anticipated performance of Grammy-nominated faculty member Richard DeRosa’s newly composed work, Suite for an Anniversary.

This composition commemorates the 125th anniversary of the University of North Texas and showcases some of the extraordinary talent within the College of Music in both the classical and jazz programs. The instrumentation includes a full orchestra (mixed with classical and jazz performers), an additional jazz rhythm section, and an improvising saxophonist. Since UNT’s development is firmly rooted in the ‘old’ American West, Richard DeRosa’s composition includes a section with a bold and rugged energy which creates a thrilling, modernized Western Swing style reminiscent of the American frontier. Come be one of the first to hear this exciting new composition performed by the Concert Orchestra combined with UNT jazz musicians.

Full press release

Cost of Admission: $10 Adults; $8 Senior Citizens 55+, Non-UNT Students, Children, UNT Faculty/Staff/Retirees and Groups of 10+; Free to UNT Students (limit 1, UNT Student ID required, must be picked up in person at the MPAC Box Office).

The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The U.S. Air Force Band. Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United States, deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C. About the Airmen of Note

Come to the UNT Union Syndicate on April 21 to see the Airmen of Note (and six UNT alumni who are members of the group) perform for FREE!

Name of Event: The Airmen of Note
Date/time: April 21 at 9:00 pm
Cost of Admission: FREE
Venue Information: UNT Union Syndicate

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Five Jazz Studies majors were recognized at Honors Day on April 1, 2016 at Winspear Hall. L to R: Amanda Ekery, Robert Cox Memorial Award from the Honors College; Brendon Wilkins, Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Woodwinds; Eric Pers, Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Percussion; Aaron Holthus, Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Jazz Studies. Not pictured is Brian Horton, Outstanding Graduate Student in Jazz Studies, who attended the ceremony but had to return right away to rehearsal for his doctoral recital on Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m. in Voertman Hall.

Congratulations to alumnus Tom "Bones" Malone, who received the Mississippi Arts Commission Governor's Award for Lifetime Achievement on February 11, 2016 in Jackson, MS.

With the rest of the jazz education community, we mourn the loss of David Baker, a pioneer in the field and a close friend of UNT professor emeritus Dan Haerle, who wrote on Facebook, "He has been a deep part of my musical life and an inspiration to me for many years."
Announcement from Indiana University
Indiana University blog about David Baker

Alumnus Kevin Brunkhorst has released his new CD, Otherwise, which he recorded in Denton with John Murphy, tenor saxophone, Fred Hamilton, bass, and Ed Soph, drums. All of the tracks are original compositions by Kevin Brunkhorst. You can listen to excerpts at www.cdbaby.com/cd/kevinbrunkhorst2.

In this story by the Dallas CBS affiliate Rich DeRosa and Neil Slater talk about Rich's Grammy-nominated composition "Neil."

Pianist, composer, and educator Danilo Pérez is the 2016 artist in residence for The Glenn E. Gomez International Artists Endowment for Jazz Studies. He will work with students in the Division of Jazz Studies from February 29 through March 3. On the evening of March 3, he will perform with the One O'Clock Lab Band and with his Panama 500 project at Winspear Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.