Performing Groups

Performing Groups

Jazz Ensembles

Director:

Frank Mauceri
fmauceri@bowdoin.edu

Small Jazz Ensembles

Swing, bebop, bossa nova, and even rhythm and blues: The Bowdoin Jazz ensembles play a variety of jazz styles. These combos focus on jazz improvisation and every member gets plenty of solo opportunities. Groups rehearse twice per week and the ensemble can be taken for credit. Auditions are held during the first week of the semester or by appointment with the director. These combos perform in concert at the end of each semester. They are also called upon to provide music at campus events.

Jazz Ensembles

Up to six credits of individual performance and ensemble courses together may be taken for graduation credit. Lessons, large ensembles, and chamber ensembles may also be taken as non-credit courses. Ensemble Performance Studies encompasses the various options associated with performing in ensembles. For additional information, please refer to the College Catalogue (pdf)

Polar Jazz Big Band

The Polar Jazz Big Band, Bowdoin's large jazz ensemble, draws its players from the surrounding community as well as from the Bowdoin student body. This group celebrates the great bands and composers of the big band era, such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Carter. We also perform more modern arrangements from composers such as Oliver Nelson, Gil Evans, and Toshiko Akioshi. In addition to an end of the semester jazz concert, this group performs once or twice per semester at campus events or at one of the campus social houses.