UW Jazz Ensemble Goes Global

The Department of Music is a storied institution for the College of Arts and Sciences that provides Laramie and the surrounding area with regular performances featuring accomplished student and faculty musicians. While these performances commonly contribute to the unique art culture of Laramie and Wyoming, the UW Jazz Ensemble recently went global, with Ben Markley, director of jazz studies, and 15 top young jazz musicians embarking on a tour of Europe to showcase the talent cultivated at the University of Wyoming.

UW Jazz Ensemble Embarks on International Tour In Italy and France

The Jazz Ensemble’s European trek, which happened July 6-15, was headlined by performances on the main stage of the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, and at the Vienne Jazz Festival in Vienne, France. The events are two of the most prestigious music festivals in the world, with artists such as B.B. King, Prince, James Brown and Miles Davis having performed at the Umbria Jazz Festival alone. The Jazz Ensemble also performed in more intimate settings across Italy and France. Between these smaller performances and the festivals, the students performed five of the 10 days the group was there.

Markley says the experience was transformative for the budding group.

“As our jazz area has grown, one of the things I have made it a point to do is get out and perform in places we may not have before to spread our brand,” he says. “To do that on an international stage in multiple cities was just fantastic. We played at two of the most prestigious jazz events in the world, and you could hear the inspiration in the band’s performance.”

Markley says the tour nurtured rapid growth within the group.

“As the tour went on, the ensemble hit their stride. The difference between our performances on night one and the final night was tangible,” he says. “Experiences like these bring out the best in our students.”

The Jazz Ensemble entertained crowds throughout Italy and France with a repertoire of classics, original songs by Markley and, notably, a composition by one of the students in the ensemble, Micah Miller.

Miller, a Casper native going into the second year of his graduate studies in trumpet performance, had worked on the composition since late 2020 and finally shared it with audiences during European concerts. Miller says it was exciting to share his piece, “Old West,” a big band adaptation of a Brad Mehldau work, with an international audience.

“It was an incredible experience to have that music played not only by a large group of my peers, but also to have the opportunity to perform it to an overseas audience. I was so grateful to perform that piece outside a school setting,” Miller says.

Despite the focus on performing and the music from Miller and the ensemble, Markley says the trip was just as important in another way.

“It was just about music as much as it was about life. We had the opportunity to experience other cultures briefly. One of the students had never flown before, and many hadn’t been out of the country,” he says.

The Experience of a Lifetime

As Markley says, the Jazz Ensemble’s tour was a landmark experience for the group beyond just music. In addition to performing, students had the chance to immerse themselves in different cultures. The food was a highlight, as were traveling to Rome and spending time in villages in the south of France and Northern Italy. Additionally, the ensemble had moments to experience the festivals as attendees. Markley and the entire ensemble had the privilege of attending any performance by the other artists with a performer’s pass. These experiences proved to be inspiring and entertaining. While the band enjoyed the opportunity to be spectators, perhaps the most essential part of the trip was bonding with one another. Miller cites this aspect of the trip provided memories that will last forever for him and the whole band. “In our studies in the Department of Music, sometimes we get separated—especially with how much we practice and work on our craft,” he says. “We were together on a bus for eight days in a place where we didn’t know the language and customs. We stuck together, learned a lot about each other and came together closer than ever.”

Between the occasion of performing abroad and taking in the travel, festivals and bonding with his peers, Miller reflects on the experience as refreshing and inspiring.

“Being around that much music and artistry was very inspiring. I remember a moment during the tour when we were watching (world famous jazz bassist) Christian McBride perform in the sweltering heat. It was an amazing performance, and I remember thinking that this is absolutely what I want to do with my life. It was great to have those moments of re-inspiration,” Miller says.

The UW Jazz Ensemble performs at the renowned Vienne Jazz Festival.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEN MARKLEY