Bachelor of Jazz Studies

 I believe that Jazz music is one of the most powerful tools in history for unifying our world’s social and cultural community. Born in the North American community and accepting of all societal participation, Jazz is the confluence of two mainstream cultures in our modern society. Rhythm language, which is an African tradition, speaks directly to the soul of us all and is meticulously blended with the European art of song form and melody. A more accurate name description for Jazz is Spontaneous Composition Performance Music.

Professor Steve Kirby, Jazz Program Director

 

 

UMJO
UMJO Saxophone Section April 2013

LS
                                                                             Lucas Sader Class of 2013

 

 

The Bachelor of Jazz Studies program at The Desautels Faculty of Music is designed to provide a broad and comprehensive study of jazz performance, jazz composition and arranging as they have developed over the past century. It also provides strong training in jazz history, theory, and pedagogy.

The Bachelor of Jazz Studies program address's the four disciplines that jazz musicians must cultivate in order to succeed in today’s musical society: performance, composition, arranging, and pedagogy. A student graduating with a Jazz Studies Degree from The University of Manitoba will be equipped to enter the field of jazz in any one, or combination, of these areas. Our program has received high praise from jazz luminaries in in  the fields of performance and education (see Curriculum page for more details)

Graduates of our program are going on to success in performance and education, please view Alumni News pages for news on Curtis Nowosad, Luke Sellick, Will Bonness, Laurent Roy, Amber Epp, Lucas Sader, Neil Watson and Heitha Forsyth.

JAA
Jazz Alumni Allstar Performance November 2012: Will Bonness - 2007, Karl Kohut - 2009, Neil Watson - 2009, Lucas Sader - 2013, Heitha Forsyth - 2008, Curtis Nowosad - 2011, Simon Christie - 2011

Browse the selections at the right to learn about
our curriculum, faculty, events, and more!

Why should you choose The University of Manitoba Jazz Studies Program?

Thanks to the Faculty of Music's jazz program, marquee jazz musicians now regularly come to Winnipeg to perform and teach, putting the city on the international jazz map. Steve Kirby, Director of Jazz Studies, and his colleagues Quincy Davis (drums), Derrick Gardner (trumpet), Will Bonness (piano), Larry Roy (guitar) and Anna-Lisa Kirby (voice) and now the newest member of our jazz faculty, Jon Gordon, have collaborated with the finest artists on the international jazz scene and brought renewed energy to Winnipeg's jazz culture.

NPJC
U of M Jazz Faculty performance @ Jazz Education Network 2013: Craig Bailey, Will Bonness, Anna-Lisa Kirby, Derrick Gardner, Steve Kirby, Larry Roy and Quincy Davis

The Jazz Studies Program has created numerous jazz outreach and community initiatives that now have become opportunites for it's students to perform and educate while building further on Winnipeg's Jazz Community.

These initiatives include:

  • Izzy Asper Jazz Performance Series: This is a professional jazz concert series that features international jazz artists for 15 concerts per year and our student jazz ensembles perform an opening set for these major artists for every concert

  • The Cool Wednesday Night Hang: Now in it's 9th year, The Hang is a New York style jam session that is run by Steve Kirby and the Desautels jazz faculty members. Every Wednesday night the jazz faculty, students and community players come together to play jazz or as Professor Kirby calls it, "composition at the speed of conversation" at The Orbit Room. It's a unique opportunity for the students to not only get to share the bandstand with their world class instructors but also for them to work out the information they are learning in their classes as part of the jazz curriculum.


    Hang
    The Cool Wednesday Night Hang - Lary Roy, Amber Epp, Marcus Printup, Steve Kirby & Will Bonness

  • dig! Magazine: is in it's it's 9th year of publication. It was created by Steve Kirby to promote awareness of the jazz culture in Winnipeg. It is a bi-monthly publication featuring articles about local, national, and international jazz musicians, upcoming performances and workshops, as well as historical context, interviews, reviews, CD and book recommendations, and letters to and from the editor. Our students are often givin the opportunity to write articles for publication in dig! under the guidance of associate edito, Charlene Diehl.  
  • Jazz On Wheels: is a mobile Jazz Performance Education program. This program provides today’s urban youth with positive artistic experiences, helping them to discover new creative outlets and to develop a life-long appreciation for jazz.
  • The Bridge Program: The Bridge brings music instruction into under-served neighborhoods, inspiring at-risk students to find positive ways of expressing themselves and helping them feel connected to the community at large. Students from the Jazz Studies Pedagogy class teach in The Bridge Program part of their practicum.
  • The University of Manitoba Summer Jazz Camp for middle and high school students.
  • The University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra - this 17 piece jazz orchestra led by Professor Derrick Gardner gives the students the full Big Band experience. As a member of the Count Basie Orchestra since 1991, Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, Smithosonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Professor Gardner is tailor made for his position as Director of the UMJO!
  • The University of Manitoba Small Jazz Ensmebles: are led by all of the jazz faculty members. The ensembles get numerous opportunites to perform all years long. In addition to credit performances at
    The Cool Wednesday Night Hang and Mardi Jazz twice per semester. Student Jazz ensembles get the opportunity to perform opening sets for the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances and appearances in local high schools throughout the year.
  • Promise: is an outstanding student jazz ensemble directed by Professor Quincy Davis that rehearses twice a week and performs regularly with Professor Davis at the drums
    Promise 2013