UCO Jazz Ensemble brings home top honors from prestigious jazz festival

April 6, 2006

The University of Central Oklahoma “Jazz Ensemble” was recently chosen “Outstanding College Jazz Ensemble” at the Sixth Annual North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison, Texas, one of the premier jazz competitions in the country.

Jazz Ensemble director Lee Rucker said only the best are invited to this festival and to take home top honors was a thrill.

“You have to make audition tapes to even be accepted to play at this festival, so to be named outstanding ensemble demonstrates our students’ depth of talent and our continuing commitment to jazz studies at UCO,” Rucker said.

This was the first time the UCO Jazz Ensemble participated in the North Texas Festival.

Rucker said the ensemble played arrangements designed to demonstrate both traditional and contemporary jazz music.

“You not only have to show the judges that you work well as an ensemble, but you also must show the necessary improvisational skills.”

As part of the honor on April 1, the UCO ensemble was given the opportunity to play on the main stage preceding the evening performance with the festival’s headliner; The Roy Hargrove Quintet.

The UCO Jazz Ensemble is made up of 20 UCO students with a variety of majors, including pre-med, business and music.

Page updated 4/01/06