Jazz Studies
The UNC Jazz Studies program has earned numerous accolades throughout its 30 year history, including more than 100 Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards. Student and faculty groups frequently perform on national and international stages, including tours of China, France and Romania in recent years. The program offers jazz degrees at the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral levels with challenging and rewarding experiences in studying and performing jazz.
Jazz Ensembles
The award-winning jazz ensembles at the University of Northern Colorado offer students performance opportunities in big bands, combos, vocal jazz groups, and Latin jazz. With over 30 years of history, UNC's jazz ensembles have earned numerous accolades, including:
- More than 100 Downbeat Student Music Awards. GRAMMY nomination for the album Hot IV by Vocal Jazz I.
- Numerous performances at national and international conferences including The Jazz Education Network, the International Association for Jazz Education, and others.
More than 150 students participate in jazz ensembles. Although the groups are comprised primarily of music majors, they are open to all students by audition. Placement auditions are held at the beginning of the fall semester.
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Vocal JazzVocal Jazz at UNC has a long tradition of national and international acclaim, and UNC's Vocal Jazz I was the first college vocal group to ever receive a Grammy nomination. |
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Jazz CombosUNC's eight small jazz ensembles (or combos) offer challenging and rewarding experiences in studying and performing jazz. Over the years, UNC's jazz combos have performed throughout the country and have won many awards. |
Guitar EnsembleThe UNC Jazz Guitar Ensemble is a specialized group dedicated to celebrating the instrument’s rich history in Jazz. This group presents the students with a special environment where they perform in a section of 5 to 8 guitarists, plus rhythm section. |
Alumni
Our alumni have careers in jazz all over the world:
Ben Haugland, DA '13, Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano, Texas Tech
Jenna McSwain, MM '10, Professional Musician, New Orleans
Angela Parrish, MM '12, Singer/Songwriter, Los Angeles
Kate Skinner, MM '10, Jazz Lecturer, University of Idaho, Moscow
Chris Smith, DA '13, Professional Musician, New York City
Maybe You're One of Us
Here, you're an individual with your own unique mix of interests — and our differences are what we have in common.
Faculty
SOCRATES GARCIA
Director of Music Technology
Associate Professor of Music
Frasier 89
(970) 351-1356
Socrates.Garcia@unco.edu
STEVE KOVALCHECK
Jazz Guitar
Associate Professor of Music
Frasier 58
(970) 351-4410
Steven.Kovalcheck@unco.edu
DANA
LANDRY
Director of Jazz Studies
Jazz Piano, Professor of Music
Frasier 201
(970) 351-2253
Dana.Landry@unco.edu
DREW ZAREMBA
Jazz Composition
Assistant Professor of Music
Frasier 48
(970) 351-2285
Drew.Zaremba@unco.edu
