Jazz Program
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Hitting The Right Notes
Jazz Program Continues to Flourish
“I
t’s like asking for an essay and getting Hemingway,” said Associate Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies Paul Haar. Jazz students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are achieving beyond what’s usually expected of college musicians, and they have a long list of awards to prove it. But jazz professors said it’s more than just talented students working behind the scenes, propelling UNL jazz to new heights. “We have some pretty strong faculty here,” said Eric Richards, associate professor of composition and jazz studies at the School of Music. He said an exceptional set of professors attracts talented prospective students and accomplished professionals. Guest artists from around the nation have visited UNL to perform and work with students. Musicians and ensembles like Branford Marsalis, the Matt Wilson Quartet and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra have made recent trips to the UNL campus, and Richards said they are impressed by the kind of music the university’s college-level groups are making. “They’re really surprised at what’s going on here,”
UNL Jazz Orchestra
Richards said. And those big-name performers—plus knowledgeable faculty—draw talented students to join the program. Students like David von Kampen. He was named Downbeat Magazine’s Graduate College Winner in the Original Composition-Orchestrated Work category for his piece “Sneak Out” in April 2012. Downbeat Magazine is a national publication highlighting jazz musicians and their work. Von Kampen earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees at UNL’s School of Music and now is working on a doctoral degree at the University of Kansas. He attributes his success to professors like Richards. “He really helped me hone those skills,” Von Kampen said. Von Kampen said he knew very little about the world of music as an incoming freshman with no formal training. But the faculty he encountered helped him grow and learn. Other UNL grads also are achieving a great deal, Haar said. Many alumni are reaching the professional jazz realm or winning spots in prestigious graduate programs.
“The program’s been successful first and foremost because of the students’ excitement.” —Paul Haar arts MAGAZINE | 2012
University of Nebraska–Lincoln