School of Music
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Selmer artist Drew Zaremba enjoys worldwide reputation as an award-winning writer, a passionate conductor, and fiery performer. He has composed and arranged pieces for the BBC Orchestra, the WDR and NDR Big Bands, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dal-las and Memphis Symphony Orchestras, the Metropole Orkest, the Airmen of Note, the Julliard Jazz Orchestra, Wayne Bergeron, Carmen Bradford, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts, Randy Brecker, Larry Braggs, Eddie Gomez, Jazz Melbourne, and the Pyramid Jazz Orchestra in Kanazawa, Japan. Drew is currently the artistic director of the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO) and the regional artistic director of Vail Jazz. Drew joined the faculty of the award-winning University of Northern Colorado (UNC) jazz studies department in 2018 to teach jazz composition.
Drew’s most recent project, “Reunion”, has been finally released as of January 2023 as his debut big band album. With producer and mentor John Clayton, and guest artist Wayne Bergeron, Drew assembled some of the Front Range’s finest musicians in a melodic and eclectic large jazz ensemble experience featuring Drew’s compositions and reimaginations of jazz standards, Chopin, and Pink Floyd. “Reunion” celebrates the joy of making music in one room together as students, faculty, and friends make a sound as one. Drew other recent releases include a jazz large ensemble EP entitled “My Mind on Quarantine”, and “Compared to What” with the CJRO, featuring funk and soul legend Larry Braggs.
As a 21st century jazz composer, one of Drew’s specialties and points of pride are his cross-cultural collaborations. These projects include: A Hindustani/Jazz saxophone and bansuri concerto with tabla and string orchestra, a concerto grosso for chamber orchestra and jazz quartet inspired by Brazilian and Cuban traditions, and an entire concert of music entitled “Crossing Chinese Opera with Jazz” during a three-month residency in Zhuhai, China.
In addition to these projects, Drew has published music through Alfred Music, Sierra Music, and has self-published over 80 works at his website, drewzaremba.com. Drew is humbled and ecstatic to receive many awards for his compositions, including the Sammy Nestico Award, the Sherman/Barsanti Inspiration Award at the University of North Texas (UNT), and 3-time Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer awards.
In addition to writing music, Drew is an active conductor, saxophonist, and keyboardist. He has guest conducted many big bands and orchestras, including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Drew currently directs the UNC Spectrum Studio Orchestra and the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra.
Teaching is a fundamental part of being a jazz musician today. Drew has given clinics and guest artist performances in Melbourne, Brussels, Tokyo, London, Hannover, The Netherlands, and in dozens of colleges and high schools across the United States. Drew has taught at the UNC and UNT summer jazz camps, as well as Arrowbear Music Camp in California, and the Golden Jazz camp in Zhuhai, China. Drew is incredibly proud of the success of his students from UNC, including downbeat awards, commissions, and postings to universities.
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