Jazz Ensemble I is the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s advanced level big band, and as such is made up of advanced students. The group is comprised of traditional big band instrumentation: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section featuring drums, piano, guitar, and bass.  The band performs music of a variety of styles, including swing, be-bop, latin, and contemporary jazz. Performances take place both on campus and at off-campus events by invitation. Jazz Ensemble I is conducted by David D’Angelo.

Jazz Ensemble II introduces students to the experience of performing in a traditional big band. By participating in Jazz Ensemble II, students study the evolution of  big band music, familiarize themselves with stylistic comparisons, and refine their improvisational skills. Like Jazz Ensemble I, this ensemble is made up of traditional big band instrumentation, and plays music of various styles both on campus and in the community. Jazz Ensemble II is co-conducted by Greg Satterthwaite and James Weidman.

Jazz Ensemble I is the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s advanced level big band, and as such is made up of advanced students. The group is comprised of traditional big band instrumentation: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section featuring drums, piano, guitar, and bass.  The band performs music of a variety of styles, including swing, be-bop, latin, and contemporary jazz. Performances take place both on campus and at off-campus events by invitation. Jazz Ensemble I is conducted by David D’Angelo.

Jazz Ensemble II introduces students to the experience of performing in a traditional big band. By participating in Jazz Ensemble II, students study the evolution of  big band music, familiarize themselves with stylistic comparisons, and refine their improvisational skills. Like Jazz Ensemble I, this ensemble is made up of traditional big band instrumentation, and plays music of various styles both on campus and in the community. Jazz Ensemble II is co-conducted by Greg Satterthwaite and James Weidman.

Under the direction of Vicki Lu, several distinguished guest artists join this ensemble which features instruments such as the erhu, guzheng, pipa, hulusi and the yangqin.

Directed by Assistant Professor Jared Holton this ensemble, which features music, rhythm, and dance from the Middle East and instruments such as the Arabic lute, reed flute, riqq, daff, and tabla. These concerts often include a special guest artist with expertise in Middle Eastern Music, such as Ali Jihad Racy (pictured),Distinguished Professor of Ethnomusicology from UCLA. More details on the next concert will be available in January.

Under the direction of Vicki Lu, several distinguished guest artists join this ensemble which features instruments such as the erhu, guzheng, pipa, hulusi and the yangqin.

Praised for possessing “admirable purity of tone and accuracy” (James Oestreich, The New York Times) and hailed as a “miracle” (Harris Goldsmith, New York Concert Review), James Kim has performed concerti with orchestras such as the Boston Symphony and Royal Philharmonic, working with conductors David Zinman, Michael Sanderling, Alexander Shelley, Keith Lockhart, Tan Dun, and others, making appearances at Stern Auditorium, Zankel Hall, and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and at Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall in Boston.

Milton Masciadri is a third generation double bass player. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, he began his studies with his father and by age 17 was co-principal Bassist with the Porto Alegre Symphony in Brazil.  At 19, he was already on the faculty at Brazil’s Federal University. He completed his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees with work under Gary Karr, Julius Levine and Lawrence Wolfe. In addition to being professor of double bass, Masciadri is also coordinator of the Hodgson School’s International & Study Abroad Italy Program.

Matthew Shipes is the assistant professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Georgia and tubist with the Georgia Brass Quintet. A dedicated advocate of tuba and euphonium performance and pedagogy, Shipes works in several roles with the International Tuba Euphonium Association (ITEA). He both writes and edits articles as an associate editor of the ITEA Quarterly Journal “Experts’ Excerpts” column, and also serves as Membership Marketer, communicating with an international audience of enthusiasts, students and professionals.

Native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva graduated from Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory where she performed with Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory Symphony Orchestra under direction of such conductors as Zubin Metha, Pierre Boulez, Dmitry Kitaenko, Valery Gergiev, and many others.

Ms. Azimkhodjaeva was one of the founders of the ARCO Chamber Orchestra. 

As a concertmaster and soloist, she performed extensively in Germany, France, Spain, Romania, Latvia, Russia, South Korea, Brazil, USA, and Canada.

She has recorded numerous CDs with music of Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, and many other contemporary composers.

Ms. Azimkhodjaeva’s numerous performances include solo appearances at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall , Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Sao Pedro in Brazil and Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory Concert Hall.

She has participated in international festivals such as Enesco Festival in Romania, FeMusik Festival in Brazil and Varna International Festival in South Carolina, USA

Her recent performance as a soloist was with Nairobi Symphony Orchestra in Kenya.