A saxophone player solos during a Jazz Orchestra Concert in Bates Recital Hall

Jazz Orchestra

The University of Texas Jazz Orchestra is the Butler School of Music’s premiere jazz ensemble. Jazz Orchestra prepares students for professional life as a creative musician, developing students’ skills in performance, teamwork, and arranging and composition. The ensemble emphasizes compositions of its members, with student works comprising a majority of the concert repertoire. The ensemble also performs some of the classic works of the jazz canon as well as works of compelling contemporary composers. The Jazz Orchestra performs at annual music festivals and in world-renowned venues with some of the top names in jazz.

Diego Rivera

Director of Jazz Studies

Director, Jazz Orchestra

Associate Professor of Jazz Studies & Jazz Saxophone

Read More about Diego Rivera

Join 

Jazz Orchestra is open to all qualified students across the university by audition.

Audition Info

 


Course

UNDERGRADUATE ENS 107J
GRADUATE ENS 185J

T-Th 3:30-5:30p  
MRH 6.248

 


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Watch

8:15 AM
By Thomas Wenglinski
Jeff Hellmer, conductor

Bates Recital Hall
Austin, TX

Upcoming Performances

A black and white headshot of Branford Marsalis in front of a magenta and black background.

Presented by Texas Performing Arts

Event Status
Scheduled
to
Black and white photo of Michael Dease wearing a hat and holding his trombone in front of a magenta and black background.

 With Michael Dease, trombone

Event Status
Scheduled
to

Diego Rivera, director of Jazz Orchestra
Michael Sailors, director of Jazz Ensemble

Black and white photo of a student playing a saxophone in front of a magenta and black background.
Event Status
Scheduled
to

Diego Rivera, director of Jazz Orchestra
Michael Sailors, director of Jazz Ensemble

Black and white photo of a student playing the upright bass in front of a magenta and black background.

 

Event Status
Scheduled
to

Diego Rivera, director of Jazz Orchestra
Michael Sailors, director of Jazz Ensemble

 


 

Recordings

Recording Cover of "In the Thick of It"; High-rise buildings tower over the viewer on all sides with cloudy blue skies beyond.

In The Thick of It

The latest recording from Jazz Orchestra, hailed as "Stunning." by Jazz Times is available now.

 iTunes • Spotify • Apple Music  

 

 


 

The Jazz orchestra plays in a lakeside park in the Swiss Alps at the Montreux Jazz Festival

The Jazz Orchestra toured Europe in Summer 2017, performing at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. Further travel is in the works.

 


 

Recent Visiting Artists

Conrad Herwig
Chris Potter
John Clayton
Michael Brecker
Stefon Harris
Maria Schneider

headshot collage of recent visiting artists