Illinois Wesleyan University Jazz Program

Jazz Offerings
Jazz Activities
Jazz History
Jazz Festival
Further Information

Jazz Offerings

The jazz program at Illinois Wesleyan is open to all University students and features interested jazz students from most departments in the University.

Music students at Illinois Wesleyan are encouraged to undertake a balanced program of classical and jazz, no matter what instrumental major or music education degree the student is pursuing. Numerous opportunities are available for those students interested in pursuing courses in jazz.

Jazz Ensemble The Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble continues to build upon a long heritage which began when Dr. Streeter started the jazz program at Illinois Wesleyan in 1972. Since then the band has performed concerts throughout the country. The Jazz Ensemble is open to all students of the University by audition. Liberal Arts students are encouraged to play side by side with their music major peers. The emphasis of the ensemble is to develop skills which would make a student competitive in the jazz / commercial playing field, as well as competent in conducting ensemble of their own. The literature for the ensemble includes the finest music from all big band styles, with an emphasis on jazz "classics."

The band tours extensively, including performances in Japan, the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Orlando, Nashville and Nassau, Bahamas. It has been featured at numerous high school jazz festivals and at the Illinois Music Educators Association convention. The Jazz Ensemble produces a CD or tape annually.

Performing at the McCormick Ranch for alumni--Welcome President Wilson from February 2005 Tour.

The Jazz Ensemble offers their most recent CD, "A Jazz Odyssey".  It is available through the IWU Bookstore or the Music Office for $15.00.  It features the best of traditional and contemporary jazz selections.

Jazz Lab Band This ensemble is available to any campus student without audition.  Secondary instruments are encouraged in the band and all music education majors are encouraged to participate to gain jazz experience.

Jazz Combo As many separate combos are formed, as personnel will allow. They play jazz standards as well as arrangements by combo members. The top combo, Active Ingredient, works extensively on campus and in the area.

Jazz History This course is offered each spring and gives the background needed to play correct jazz styles or to just appreciate listening to jazz. It is presented using multimedia techniques developed by Dr. Streeter, including a self-help program to develop the ability to identify the various styles, forms and instruments used most often by jazz musicians.

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Jazz Activities

Annual Tours The Jazz Ensemble tours have included trips to Aschikawa, Japan (sister city of Bloomington-Normal), the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, Florida, the Caribbean, Nassau and the Bahamas, where the band played on cruise ships, to Atlanta to explore the recording industry there, to Phoenix for alumni functions, and to Chicago for the IAJE Conference. The band also tours extensively in the mid-west states supporting jazz education in the schools.

Campus Concerts The band plays to full houses most every campus concert. It plays three regularly scheduled jazz nights each year, plus it encourages combo and special concerts as well.

Local Concerts Short trips are taken to local high schools and to special local events to keep the band playing regularly.

Dances The band acknowledges its roots in the big band era and realizes that to work as a musician dances and society gigs are a fact of life. To encourage the learning of tunes the band regularly plays dances for students, alumni, and the community.

Guest Artists The artists and bands who have appeared with the jazz ensemble or on campus are the who's who of jazz education. They include Stan Kenton and his Orchestra, Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd, The Airmen of Note, Roger Pemberton, Jim Pugh, Ed Soph, Buddy Baker, Dominic Spera, James Williams, Bobby Shew, Jamey Aebersold, Steve Houghton, Frank Mantooth, Denis DiBlasio, Steve Wiest, Brad Goode, Ray Smith, Lou Fischer, Chris Vadala, Reggie Thomas, Harold Jones, Phil Wilson, Ed Shaughnessy, Dan Haerle, Tom Gavling, Shelly Berg, Rob Porton, and Vince Mendoza.

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Jazz History

The origins, evolution and emergence of jazz as an art form. The course includes lectures, guest performers, readings, and listening to taped and live performances illustrating various styles in the development of jazz. Emphasis on personal styles important to the periods of jazz are stressed. The course is open to all students and is offered each spring.

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For more information

If you have questions about Jazz at IWU, please contact Dr. Streeter. I would be delighted to speak with you about our jazz program! You may write to me or send me a message:

Dr. Thomas W. Streeter
Director of Jazz Studies
Illinois Wesleyan University
P. O. Box 2900
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3269
fax: 556-3411
e-mail: tstreet@iwu.edu