Wichita State University Jazz Arts Ensembles

Welcome!

With a long and illustrious history, jazz has found a special place at Wichita State University. Our vibrant city has been a cherished destination for renowned jazz musicians on concert tours, adding to the city's allure as a jazz haven. As we proudly maintain our partnership with the esteemed Wichita Jazz Festival, the nation's longest-running educational jazz festival, our jazz students have the exceptional opportunity to connect with some of the finest talents in the jazz world. The ensembles that are a part of this legacy consistently perform at the highest levels making appearances at state, regional, national, and international levels.

Jazz Faculty

William Flynn

Associate Professor of Guitar and Area Coordinator, Jazz Studies

william.flynn@wichita.edu

(316) 978-6198

Dr. Mark Foley

Professor of Double Bass, Electric Bass

mark.foley@wichita.edu

(316) 978-6170

John Goering

Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano

john.goering@wichita.edu

(316) 978-6853

Steven Hatfield

Instructor of Jazz Drumset

steven.hatfield@wichita.edu

James Pisano

Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies

james.pisano@wichita.edu

(316) 978-6273

Community Links

WSU Jazz Invitational Mid-Kansas Jazz Ensemble

Jazz Arts I & II

The Jazz Arts Ensembles are traditional 19-piece big bands selected each year through an audition process. WSU's Jazz Arts Ensembles are part of the Jazz Studies curriculum, and each ensemble puts on two concerts each semester. The ensembles may also perform at public and private functions throughout the Wichita community, and for WSU special events. The Jazz Arts Ensembles have been consistently selected to perform at state, regional and national conferences and festivals, and have performed with notable guest artists. The repertoire of the ensembles consists of high-level arrangements of varying styles, including swing, Latin, rock, and pop charts, as well as new compositions.

Rehearsal Schedule

Jazz Arts I - Directed by Jim Pisano

Monday / Wednesday

12:30 PM to 1:50 PM

Friday

12:30 PM to 1:20 PM

Jazz Arts II - Directed by William Flynn & Miguel Santana Morales

Tuesday / Thursday

5:30 PM to 6:45 PM

Audition Information

Guitar Ensemble

Wichita State University's Guitar Ensemble, directed by William Flynn, is a chamber jazz ensemble consisting of three to five guitarists that perform original arrangements of both classic and modern jazz repertoire. The ensemble requires high degrees of literacy and instrument awareness, as the group's members navigate arrangements written in standard musical notation. The ensemble is aimed toward familiarizing guitarists with reading music in an ensemble setting, and works to hone the students' skills in the ares of tone, balance, blend, and sight-reading. The Guitar Ensemble is also aimed toward giving the students yet another outlet to perform, as the ensemble performs in a formal concert setting at least twice per semester (in conjunction with Jazz Arts I & II and Jazz Combos). This ensemble is an integral part of a guitarist's musical education at WSU, and instills within them many musical skills they will be required to possess as working professionals.

Rehearsal Schedule

Monday / Wednesday

11:30 AM to 12:20 PM

Jazz Combos

The Jazz Combo program at Wichita State University is an alternative and supplement to the large ensembles of the Jazz Studies curriculum. All Jazz Combos perform two concerts each semester. Students who are enrolled in 411M/711M are required to have one or two additional performances outside of school each semester (respectively). Juries for Jazz Studies majors will take place at the end of each semester through a performance with their combos. Combos are required to perform a minimum of five different tunes per semester, and are strongly encouraged to create original arrangements and compose original tunes. The coordinator will give guidance and assistance when necessary/appropriate.

Rehearsal Schedule

Arranged by individual combos and coordinator.

Audition Information