The UWSP Jazz Ensemble is an 18-piece orchestra featured in concert performances, dance engagements, and festival appearances throughout the year. Union, released in 2012, is the most recent CD in the band's discography and features music from Count Basie to Pat Metheny, as well as student compositions. In addition to recording and performing, the ensemble enjoys frequent collaborations with guest artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Matt Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Donny McCaslin, John Scofield, Dave Douglas, Jeff and John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton.

Large Jazz Ensembles include UWSP Jazz Ensemble-Mathew Buchman, Director (NFAC 321, 346-4054, mbuchman@uwsp.edu) and Jazz Lab Band-Brent Turney, Director (NFAC 335, 346-4049, bturney@uwsp.edu) Both section have several performances throughout the year. These ensembles are open to any university student through audition.

Rehearsals: Daily, 11 - 11:50 AM.
Registration: Music 345/545, Section 1 and 2, 1 credit.

The UWSP Jazz Band is an ensemble whose primary goal is growth of jazz performers through laboratory rehearsals and two performances per semester. The Jazz Band focuses three days a week on ensemble work, one day on improvisation and one day on section playing – in addition to working on sight reading at every rehearsal. The repertoire of the Jazz Band is purposefully diverse to expose both students and audiences to a wide variety of composers and arrangers.

The UWSP Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a select SATB vocal ensemble open to any university student through audition. The group of 12-16 singers performs a wide variety of jazz and popular music, and gives numerous performances each year on and off campus.  The ensemble has collaborated with professional vocal jazz groups and singers such as Groove for Thought, m-pact, Janet Planet, and more.  The ensemble takes a yearly weekend group retreat to UWSP's Treehaven center, hosts a vocal jazz festival, and travels to perform at high schools and festivals throughout the state.

Rehearsals:  Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00-5:15pm

Registration:  MUS 344, option of 1 or 2 credits

Director: Dr. Timothy Buchholz 

Audition information can be found here.

Winds (Including Voice): These individual auditions consist of an excerpt (made available 48 hours prior to the audition), and sight-reading.  A chromatic scale may be requested.  In addition, students have the option of preparing a solo transcription and/or improvising over a 12-bar blues in Bb (both highly recommended).

Piano/Guitar/Vibraphone/Bass/Drumset:  Rhythm section auditions are held en masse and consist of performing standard (made available 48 hours prior to the audition), and sight-reading.  In addition, students have the option of independently (and privately) performing a solo transcription immediately following the group audition.