Jazz Ensemble Wins Superior Ratings at Festival
Published: August 03, 2022 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Under the direction of Dr. Adam Lambert, Southern Utah University’s top jazz ensemble, Jazz Ensemble One, performed at the Greeley Jazz Festival’s “College Day” this past April. Performances were adjudicated by highly acclaimed jazz educators and performers, including the Director of Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music and the retired Jazz Director from Northern Colorado University.
The largest event of its kind in the nation, the University of Northern Colorado/Greeley Jazz Festival brings together internationally recognized artists, jazz lovers, award-winning clinicians, and over 250 college, high school, and middle school big bands, combos, and vocal jazz groups. Each year, over 7,500 participants enjoy the main stage concerts, after-hours sessions, daytime performances, and many educational workshop sessions.
“It was a full day of outstanding bands from colleges from throughout the western United States,” shares SUU’s Director of Bands and Brass Studies, Dr. Adam Lambert. “All three judges awarded SUU with Superior Ratings. Two of our students, Drew Holland and Will Zeller, even received outstanding soloist awards.”
This performance was SUU’s first appearance at the Greeley Jazz Festival and only the second ever appearance for the ensemble at any major jazz festival, the last being the Reno Jazz Festival in 2018. Jazz festivals such as Greeley and Reno are phenomenal opportunities for students to showcase their abilities, network with instrumentalists from across the country, and learn from the best of the best.
“I had a great time at the festival and learned so much about the jazz community,” says outstanding solo award winner and senior instrumental music education and saxophone performance major, Drew Holland. “At Greeley, I was able to see different teaching styles and the ways different educators interact with their ensembles.”
It is the goal of SUU’s Department of Music to offer students a wide array of musical opportunities during their pursuit of a music degree. Festivals such as the Greeley Jazz Festival give students the chance to hone their musical skills and gain real-world experience that prepares them for their careers post-graduation. To learn more about the outstanding programs offered by the Department of Music, visit www.suu.edu/pva/music.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year and is affiliated with the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Center for Shakespeare Studies. Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.
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