Jazz Ensembles

Jeffrey W. Holmes, director 
This award-winning Big Band has gained national and international recognition including top honors at major collegiate jazz festivals and conferences, and ensemble, individual performing, and writing citations from Downbeat Magazine's Annual Student Music Awards. Guest jazz artists commonly are featured with this ensemble. Strings, winds and percussion augment Jazz Ensemble I to form the Studio Orchestra, seven times named Best Collegiate Studio Orchestra and three times Best Blues/Pop/Rock Ensemble by Downbeat. Faculty and student works are performed prominently along with significant historic repertoire.

Click on the links to listen to live performances of Oliver Nelson's "There's A Yearnin'" and Irving Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance" by the UMass Studio Orchestra conducted by Jeff Holmes.

Felipe Salles, director
Presents traditional big-band literature, experimental compositions, and pop and rock music.

This big-band ensemble performs a varied repertoire, and is conducted by Graduate Jazz majors.

Atla DeChamplain, director

Vocal Jazz Ensemble auditions are during the first week of classes in Rm. 44. See above for info sheet. Open call or sign-up at Rm. 149K, Atla DeChamplain's office.

The primary ensemble for vocal jazz studies, it has been named Best Collegiate Jazz Choir by Downbeat magazine. Consisting of 8-12 singers and a rhythm section that is often augmented by horns, the ensemble performs both standard and contemporary jazz repertoire arranged by faculty, students, and nationally-recognized vocal jazz arrangers.

Jazz Faculty and Jazz Graduate students, directors/coaches 
Multiple ensembles perform standard and student-written materials in concert and weekly recital settings.

This Fine Arts Center two-week summer program, although not a part of Music Department curricula or degree programs, takes place in the Music wing of the Fine Arts Center and includes jazz faculty members from the Department. (To learn more, please visit the Jazz in July website)