Jazz Ensemble
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The UC Jazz Ensemble is an exciting seventeen-piece big band that performs music from a variety of styles including straight-ahead swing, funk, latin, ballads, bebop and fusion. Under the direction of Mr. David Threlkeld, this entertaining unit performs often on campus and throughout the southeastern United States. The ensemble is open not only to music majors, but to all UC students and the members frequently represent a variety of major fields of study. The Jazz Ensemble rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:40-2:55. All of the members of this ensemble receive one hour of course credit.
Each year the Jazz Ensemble hosts guest clinicians and soloists who are recognized among the finest names in jazz performance and education. Past guest artists include Greg Abate, Dominic Spera, Rande Sanderbeck, David Ridenour, Rick Simerly, Bob Bryant and Jamey Aebersold. This year, we welcome free-lance jazz drummer John Willmarth to the UC campus to present clinics on jazz performance and to appear as guest soloist with the UC Jazz Ensemble. The clinics and concert will be on Tuesday, October 7th and are free and open to the public.
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The UC Jazz Ensemble also hosts the University of the Cumberlands High School Jazz Ensemble Clinic each January. This unique clinic offers sessions for high school students on topics including ensemble rehearsal, improvisation and style interpretation as well as instrumental master classes. High school directors also have the opportunity to take advantage of clinic sessions that include hands-on rhythm section clinics, a reading session (where directors participate) for new literature for jazz ensembles and approaches to teaching improvisation. This year’s clinic will be on Tuesday, January 16th, 2007.
For more information about the Jazz Ensemble or the High School Jazz Clinic, contact David Threlkeld at (606) 539-4334 or dthrelk@ucumberlands.edu.
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