Whitworth Jazz Ensemble

The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble is an award-winning, nationally recognized collegiate jazz orchestra, which is considered one of the most outstanding in the Northwest. It has been recognized for incredible performances at the Chicago-based Elmhurst Jazz Festival both in 2013 and 2017 as well as at several All-Northwest and All-State Conferences over the past three decades. Competing with much larger universities, the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble has placed first at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival numerous times (most recently in 2024), performed at the Leavenworth Jazz Festival 2024 and has recorded 13 studio albums. 

Touring annually, both around the U.S. and internationally, the music ensembles at Whitworth University value students’ cultural experiences and interactions with all people in our globalized world. The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble has experienced a dozen international performance tours to Italy, Brazil, Germany, Australia, Thailand and Cuba, with national tours to Hawaii, New York, New Orleans and Chicago.  

The Whitworth Jazz Ensemble features annual guest artist performances with renowned jazz musicians such as Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Garrett, Branford Marsalis, Maria Schneider, Ellis Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Steve Turre, Kenny Barron, Joe Lavano, Chris Potter and many others. Master classes are held regularly with these phenomenal artists as well as with touring world-class jazz musicians to create a special occasion for our students to learn about and experience this art form. 

The Whitworth Music Program offers numerous jazz scholarships of significant amounts, which, when combined with the university’s generous academic scholarships, provide an opportunity for students to pay no more in tuition than they would at a state university. The jazz area also has multiple jazz combos where students can focus on small group improvisation and interaction.

In 2022, the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble released its 12th album, entitled Moon Mist featuring the music of Maria Schneider. In fall 2022, Jared Hall, DMA, became the new director of jazz studies and director of the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble. Since Hall’s arrival, the band has performed with vocalist Tierney Sutton, tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana, guitarist Russell Malone and trumpeter Brian Lynch as well as at the Leavenworth Jazz Festival 2024.

Audio Recordings

“Blues for Basie” (from Soulville CD)

“I Should Care” (from Moon Mist CD)

“It’s You or No One” (from Moon Mist CD)

Social Media

	Instagram/whitworthjazz