Department of Jazz Studies
University of Northern Iowa
WELCOME
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Jazz has been an integral part of the University of Northern Iowa School of Music for nearly 50 years. The original band, formed and run by student musicians in the early 1950's, eventually evolved into the UNI Jazz Studies program. This nationally recognized program has grown to include several large and small jazz ensembles as well as a full curriculum of jazz studies courses. Comparing the UNI Jazz Studies program with other programs across the nation, Arts Midwest saluted the UNI program as "one of the best."
NEWS
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Matt Wilson!!! Friday, September 9, 2016 Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM
Click the image for more info about Matt
Michael Conrad (UNI, '2011) has recently been named winner of the Downbeat Student Music Awards - Best Jazz Arrangement (Graduate College); June 2016, winner of the Downbeat Student Music Awards - Outstanding Composition (Graduate College); June 2016, winner of the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards; January 2016, 2nd-place winner of the Bundesjazzorchester (BuJazzO) Composition Competition - Trossingen, Germany; January 2016, and winner of the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Young Composer Showcase - Louisville, Kentucky; January 2016
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Dr. David Lisik (UNI, '98) is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor in U.S.) of Jazz Composition at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington, and recently completed two CD recordings of his compositions: Hitch / Slap, featuring Donny McCaslin, Luis Bonilla, Andy McKee and Jeff "Tain" Watts; and Bonnie and Clyde featuring Alex Sipiagin and Dave Kikoski. He is also completing a book, with fellow UNI M.Mus/Jazz Pedagogy grad, Eric Allen, on the 50 year history of Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra which will be released in February, 2017 at the Village Vanguard. Dave recently co-directed, for the 6th year, the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra with guest soloist Dick Oatts. Dave will release his third CD of jazz orchestra music, Origin of Species, in 2016, featuring Alex Sipiaign, Bob Sheppard, Dick Oatts, Scott Wendholt, Tanya Darby, Luis Bonilla, John Fedchock, and Matt Wilson.
Chris Merz, Director of Jazz Studies
School of Music
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0246
(319).273.3077
or
(800).535.3171
fax: (319).273.7320
Email: chris.merz@uni.edu
Contact Us!
Upcoming Events
August 20, 2016: Bob Washut Trio with Alexander Pershounin, bass, Eric Thompson, drums and special guests Rick Stone and Chris Merz on saxophone at The Octopus 8 PM.
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September 9, 2016: Guest Artist Matt Wilson, drums with UNI Jazz Faculty. Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM.
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September 27, 2016: UNI Jazz Combos Concert. Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM.
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October 7, 2016: UNI Jazz Band One and Jazz Panthers Concert. Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM.
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October 14, 2016: Guest Artist Adam Larson, saxophone. Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM.
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November 4, 2016: UNI Jazz Band One Concert. Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM.
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November 17, 2016: UNI Jazz Panthers and Inglorious Jazzers Concert. Bengtson Auditorium 7:30 PM.
