Among strong Conservatory programs, Lawrence University has one of the longest traditions of excellence in jazz education. Whether you're interested in pursuing a career as a jazz artist or simply looking for an introduction to this demanding musical discipline, Lawrence can provide you with an unparalleled experience.
Lawrence offers a Bachelor of Music Degree with a Jazz Emphasis and a broad range of jazz ensembles, courses, and private instruction. Long recognized among the finest undergraduate jazz ensembles in the country, the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble (LUJE) and Lawrence Hybrid Ensemble (formerly "Jazz Singers") have been cited three times as the outstanding U.S. collegiate jazz groups in the Downbeat Magazine “Student Music Awards.” The Lawrence Jazz Band and the newly formed Jazz Workshop Ensemble round out the large jazz ensemble experience.
6-8 Lawrence Jazz Small Groups meet twice weekly throughout the school year in “jazz performance classrooms.” Working combos of 5-8 students study small group performance practice and improvisation in sessions that thoughtfully link theory and practice, emphasize jazz repertoire, and explore contemporary improvisational concepts. IGLU (Improvisation Group of Lawrence University) is an ensemble dedicated to improvising in various styles including rock, 20th century classical, Arabic taqasim, klezmer, jazz, electronic, and Korean sinawi music to name a few. The large ensembles, small groups, IGLU, and an intense sequence of jazz composition and arranging courses are closely integrated, allowing for frequent performances and recordings of student works. Lawrence jazz students have won numerous Downbeat Magazine “Student Music Awards" in the instrumental soloist, original composition, arranging, and recording categories.
