The UWSP Jazz Ensemble, an 18-piece orchestra open to any UWSP student by audition, is featured in concert performances, dance engagements, and festival appearances throughout the year. In addition to recording and performing, the ensemble enjoys frequent collaborations with guest artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Matt Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, Donny McCaslin, John Scofield, Dave Douglas, Jeff and John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton.
Rehearsals: Monday-Thursday, 11 – 11:50 AM.
Registration: Music 345, Section 1, 1 credit.
Director: Professor Brent Turney
The UWSP Jazz Band is an ensemble whose primary goal is growth of jazz performers through laboratory rehearsals and two performances per semester. The Jazz Band focuses three days a week on ensemble work, one day on improvisation and one day on section playing – in addition to working on sight reading at every rehearsal. The repertoire of the Jazz Band is purposefully diverse to expose both students and audiences to a wide variety of composers and arrangers.
The UWSP Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a select SATB vocal ensemble open to any university student through audition. The group of 12-16 singers performs a wide variety of jazz and popular music, and gives numerous performances each year on and off campus. The ensemble has collaborated with professional vocal jazz groups and singers such as Groove for Thought, m-pact, Janet Planet, and more. The ensemble takes a yearly weekend group retreat to UWSP’s Treehaven center, hosts a vocal jazz festival, and travels to perform at high schools and festivals throughout the state.
Rehearsals: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00-5:15pm
Registration: MUS 344, option of 1 or 2 credits
Director: Dr. Timothy Buchholz
Winds (including voice)
These individual auditions consist of an excerpt (made available 48 hours prior to the audition), and sight-reading. A chromatic scale may be requested. In addition, students have the option of preparing a solo transcription and/or improvising over a 12-bar blues in Bb (both highly recommended).
Piano/Guitar/Vibraphone/Bass/Drumset
Rhythm section auditions are held en masse and consist of performing standard (made available 48 hours prior to the audition), and sight-reading. In addition, students have the option of independently (and privately) performing a solo transcription immediately following the group audition.
Meet Your Jazz Faculty and Staff
Our faculty work professionally as performers, directors, and composers who through their experience and dedication help ensure our students are successful.
Click to view the entire Department of Music faculty
Mathew Buchman
- Department Chair – Music
- Professor – Jazz Studies
Brent Turney
- Director of Jazz Studies
- Professor – Trumpet
Timothy Buchholz
- Professor – Vocal Jazz and Contemporary Voice
Patrick Lawrence
- Professor – Low Brass
- Professor – Music Education
upcoming cofac events
The College of Fine Arts and Communication offers more than 500 events open to the public each academic year! These include dance, music, and theater performances, master classes, guest artists, gallery exhibitions, SPTV broadcasts, WWSP radio programs, media and video productions among many other student-created pieces.
While the academic year has concluded, we have an exciting summer ahead! Watch our website for the 2026-27 theatre and dance season announcement, free public concerts during the American Suzuki Institute this July, Carlsten Gallery exhibits and more!
National Association of Schools of Music
Founded in 1924, the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 637 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for music and music-related disciplines and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other music-related endeavors.
The College of Fine Arts and Communication at UW-Stevens Point is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.