����������

The Concert Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo received rave reviews for their performances at the “Super Bowl of jazz education” in Monterey, California March 27-29.

The students were invited to perform as part of the ’s prestigious , which annually brings more than a thousand middle-school, high-school and college big bands, combos and ensembles to “duke it out for the glory of performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September,” according to the festival’s website.

“We had a fantastic trip,” says , director of the . “The combo and ensemble each performed twice and received rave reviews. It was a thrill to hear their inspired performances and to witness how well the students represented themselves and the College of Music.”

In addition to performing, the students attended workshops and performances by professional musicians, received thoughtful critiques from adjudicators and had their opportunity to jam with students from around the country.

����������'s jazz-studies program was established in 1996, under former  Dean Daniel Sher. In 2013 it was named in honor of Jeannie and Jack Thompson, in recognition of their $1.6 million donation to the program. 

Photo courtesy John Gunther.