The Lee University Jazz Ensemble
Lee University’s Jazz Ensemble will present a spring concert on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center.
The evening will feature music from jazz icons such as Chick Corea, Charles Mingus, and Thad Jones. Original music from the ensemble director, Alan Wyatt, will also be performed.
“I've been writing orchestrations for some of the original music that I performed at my faculty recital a few years ago,” said Mr. Wyatt. “With this strong ensemble that I've been enjoying all year, I look forward to having them share with our audience new renditions and colorations of some music that's been very close to my heart.”
According to Mr. Wyatt, the Jazz Ensemble recently returned from a successful performance at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival at Notre Dame University in Indiana. The festival is the nation’s oldest collegiate jazz festival celebrating its 60th year.
The ensemble earned an overall Division I rating for its “outstanding performance.” Graduate trumpet student Caleb Hall was honored with an Outstanding Soloist commendation.
The Lee University Jazz Ensemble performs traditional and recent literature for the traditional Big Band. The ensemble comprises sections of wind and brass instruments, including saxophones, trumpets, and trombones, as well as rhythm section instruments. A frequent award winner at national festivals, the ensemble performs for campus, school, and civic events.
Mr. Wyatt, an assistant professor of music at Lee, has shared the stage with several artists, including Frank Sinatra Jr., The Temptations, The Four Tops, Doc Severinsen, and Clay Aiken, among others. Wyatt teaches courses in music business and serves as the area coordinator for the Department of Musicianship Studies in Lee’s School of Music.
Admission to the concert is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Lee’s School of Music at 614-8240.