Jazz Ensemble
The UGA Jazz Ensemble is our premier instrumental jazz group. Auditions for this big-band-style group are held during the first week of fall semester and first week of spring semester. The Jazz Ensemble performs concerts locally and at important festivals and conventions. The UGA Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Steve Dancz, has performed by invitation at the 1999 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, and the Vienne Jazz Festival in Vienne, France. In 2008 the band traveled with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue on his Mission to China, performing for Chinese and American industry leaders in Beijing. The Jazz Ensemble has welcomed many guest artists and clinicians to UGA, including Wynton Marsalis, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Marcus Roberts, Rufus Reid, Jamey Aebersold, Chris Vadala, Akira Tana, Willie Thomas, and Eric Reed.
Jazz Combos
Jazz combos are small groups that can range in size from duos to septets and perform works in a variety of jazz idioms and styles. Auditions for Jazz Combos begin the first Tuesday and Thursday of the semester at 12:30 in the Leebern Band Hall following a short informational meeting.
Classic City Jazz
Classic City Jazz is UGA's vocal and instrumental combo. Since its debut in January 2002 the group has been selected to perform at numerous prestigious events including the 'Tribute to Jazz Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon' in Augusta with artists such as pianist Marcus Roberts, and most recently the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Savannah in January 2004. This vocal and instrumental combo specializes in jazz styles from swing, ballad, bebop, cool, fusion, Latin, and more. Classic City Jazz has been featured on WUGA-FM and has recorded a CD: CCJ Sampler. Classic City Jazz performs both on and off campus throughout the year. Auditions are open to all students of the University of Georgia. Classic City Jazz is under the direction of Dr. Mitos Andaya.
