A note from the director:

The UCF music department begins its second year offering of our Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, as well as our graduate degree offering of an MA in Music. The addition of several new ensembles this year including the UCF Jazz Ensemble II under the direction of Per Danielsson, is a reflection of growth within UCF music. Jazz Ensemble II is designed to meet the needs of our jazz majors as well as music education majors interested in gaining experience in jazz performance techniques and jazz pedagogy.

Our jazz curriculum integrates performance with dissemination of knowledge. In example, students in the Jazz Workshop ensembles perform, develop a repertoire, and improvisational techniques on Tuesdays and Thursdays while the UCF Jazz Ensemble I and II meets Mondays and Wednesdays. The scheduling of our curriculum gives students a great deal of rehearsal and performance time, and input from our professors. Numerous graduate students are in these groups, elevating the playing level and ensemble experience. Our Jazz theory course meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

We have several notable events already planned for the 2008-2009 season, including the October 24th concert The Orlando Divas with UCF Jazz Ensemble I, featuring Davonda Simmons, Michelle Amato, Suzy Park and Cynthia Calhoun. On Wednesday October 15 UCF presents A Tribute to the Four Brothers: Four Others with Harry Allen, Jeff Rupert, Jack Wilkins on tenor saxes, George Weremchuk on baritone sax, and the UCF jazz professors Per Danielsson, Marty Morell and Richard Drexler. Bobby Koelbe's cutting edge Absinthe Trio plays its UCF debut on Tuesday November 18. Kenny Drew, Jr. will be featured for an evening of solo piano on November 1, and the Per Danielsson trio performs on January 22.

Of great interest is the Second Annual UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival scheduled for March 20 & 21, 2009. In addition to presenting internationally acclaimed artists, high school jazz bands will take the stage during the day. The UCF ALL STAR HIGH SCHOOL JAZZTET will debut at this year's festival. It is a group of select high school jazz musicians competing for the opportunity to prepare a set, opening up for the headliner of the 2009 UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival. These students will work with the UCF Jazz Faculty for a few in-depth rehearsals prior to the event. The focus of this group is improvisation within the small group setting. Students from all over the country are invited to audition. For more information about this group visit our homepage and click on the All Star High School Jazztet tab.

The first UCF-Orlando Jazz festival was recorded for NPR's Jazz set hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater, and will air on NPR stations on October 16, 2008. One for All with Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Mulgrew Miller, John Webber and Joe Farnsworth, and the UCF JAZZ Ensemble I are the featured artists on this recording. Don't miss this exiting evening showcasing great jazz from UCF and Orlando!

There are over twenty other jazz performances throughout the 2008-2009 school year, including trumpet sensations Ingrid Jensen and Marvin Stamm with The UCF Jazz Professors and UCF Jazz Ensemble I. Please check our events calendar for complete concert listings and information.

Our BM in Jazz Studies curriculum reflects trends in the industry, as well as the performance and recording opportunities in the Orlando Metro area. Most of our music students perform regularly in town or at the amusement parks. Several of our students perform and record with Sam Rivers RIVBEA orchestra, as well as numerous other groups. Professional performance opportunities in Orlando combined with the comprehensive music curriculum at UCF gives our students a unique learning experience.

We look forward to the years ahead, and hope to see you at an up-coming UCF music event! See the Events section of this website for complete listings of UCF jazz performances and events.

Best Wishes,

Jeff Rupert
Selmer Saxophone Artist
Director of Jazz Studies