Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble

Jazz @ Middlebury Celebrates Its 75^th Anniversary

Jazz has been part of the Middlebury experience since 1934, when a group of students began exploring the music that’s been called America’s National Treasure. The Music Department now offers 2 organized activities for jazz players.

The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble is the department’s big band. It plays the best of contemporary jazz arrangements in addition to celebrating the classic charts of the swing and jazz repertoires. Original compositions and arrangements by members of the Middlebury community are encouraged. The Ensemble uses the traditional mix of saxes, trombones, trumpets, piano, guitar, bass and drums, supplemented on occasion by other instruments and vocalists. Membership in the band is by audition and is open to all students; experienced players are especially encouraged to apply.

The Sound Investment has a need for saxophone, trombone, trumpet and piano players for fall term.

For music majors, playing with The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble meets the Music Department’s performance ensemble requirement. Academic credit is available for all participants. (See course listing for MUSC 0205.) All band members are strongly encouraged to take private lessons with one of the Department’s Affiliate Artists. A significant discount is offered to encourage doing this.

Auditions are required to participate in the Jazz Program’s formal activities:

If you are interested in performing with The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble, you will be asked to play excerpts from two charts in the band’s repertoire, plus a technical exercise, and a sight reading exercise.

Recordings and pdf’s of the audition pieces can be found on the Jazz Segue site,

https://segue.middlebury.edu/view/html/site/middjazz in the Sound Investment section. Becoming familiar with the recordings will help you prepare for the audition.

Dick Forman, Director of Jazz Activities, CFA 318      
443-3288; forman@middlebury.edu