Jazz Ensemble

FAQ

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The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Jazz Ensembles are open to all UW Oshkosh students regardless of major. Auditions are held for all positions in the two jazz big bands at the beginning of each semester. Several jazz combos also meet regularly every semester, with regular campus coffeehouse gigs and late-night jam sessions a staple of UWO campus life.

Fall 2024 Audition Information

Auditions will be held in A/C N234.
A sign-up sheet posted outside N234 has jazz audition times available throughout the day from Wednesday, Sept. 4th – Friday, Sept. 6th.
General Audition information can be found HERE. Please review this sheet before your audition.
Complete THIS INFO SHEET and bring to your audition.
Please download and prepare the music for your instrument below.
- - Saxophone
  - Trumpet
  - Trombone
  - Piano
  - Guitar
  - Bass
  - Drums

Rehearsal Schedule

Jazz Ensemble – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, from 3:00 – 4:00

Jazz Lab Band – Tuesday, Thursday from 3:00 – 4:30

Jazz Ensemble

The UWO Jazz Ensemble, directed by Marty Robinson, is the premiere jazz group and rehearses four times weekly and performs a minimum of two major concerts on campus each semester as well as occasional off-campus special events. In addition, the jazz ensemble travels to national jazz festivals and often tours regionally to high schools around Wisconsin. Several nationally known guest artists have appeared and/or worked with the UWO Jazz Ensemble in recent years:

Trumpet:
Scotty Barnhart, Derrick Gardner, Clay Jenkins, John McNeil, Valery Ponomarev, Bobby Shew, Byron Stripling

Saxophone:
David Bixler, Tom Gullion, Branford Marsalis, Jim Snidero, Tom Washatka

Trombone:
Tom Garling, Andy Martin, Dean Sorenson

Rhythm Section:
Carl Allen, drums
Avishai Cohen, bass
Richard Davis, bass
John Harmon, piano
Mary Louise Knutson, piano
Dennis Mackrel, drums
Ted Piltzecker, vibraphone
Joey Alexander, piano
Russell Hall, bass
Mark Whitfield, Jr., drums
The Bad Plus

Guest Vocalists:
Bryan Anthony
Erin Krebs
Steve March-Torme
Janet Planet

Jazz Lab Band

The UWO Jazz Lab Band performs its own concerts every semester and is a great opportunity for underclassmen and music education students, in particular, to get a jazz big band experience. Music in both big bands is chosen to represent the diversity of the jazz area and includes the numerous styles and eras that help define “America’s musical art form.” Improvisation, an essential element of jazz, is strongly encouraged by all members of the ensemble though is not required for participation.