Jazz Ensemble I

Prof. Todd Wright, Director

Appalachian State University -  Boone, North Carolina 

The Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music currently offers a Certificate in Jazz that is eligible to any university student. The jazz program ensembles stay busy in preparation for performances. In addition to presenting on-campus concerts, performing at music conferences, and touring statewide to public schools, Jazz Ensemble I has toured extensively to western Europe. In spring 2007 toured western Europe with performances in Freiburg, Germany and Montreux, Switzerland. In January 2011 a student combo performed in Madrid, Spain, along with the ASU Marching Mountaineers. A performance tour of Holland, France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg took place in spring of 2013. In 2015 the ensemble toured Italy, from Milan to Naples, with performances in Rome. Jazz Ensemble most recently, in 2018, toured Scandinavia with four performances in Sweden. 

Jazz Ensemble I has hosted and performed on campus with numerous acclaimed jazz personalities including Phil Woods, Eddie Daniels, Clark Terry, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Bill Watrous, Ed Shaughnessy, Peter Erskine, Wayne Andre, James Williams, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, Jon Faddis, Allen Vizzutti, Steve Davis, Wycliffe Gordon, Ingrid Jensen, Vincent DiMartino, Chris Vadala, Randy Brecker, John Riley, John Fedchock, Lewis Nash, Dick Oatts, Steve Wilson, and many others.  The ensemble has also performed Marcus Roberts and his trio.