Announcements

New charts for a new year! We’re gearing up for another great season of dancing and jazz concerts for 2020 and added some new music to our library. Look out for a new blues feature set for our summer concerts that will knock you out of your seat. We’re also working on some great new charts arranged by Jeremy Levy including a wild new imagining of Gustav Holst’s The Planets. Katrina Cannon is  spinning up some new features with classics from Diane Shuur, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae. We’re also adding to our extensive library with features from University of North Texas alum Drew Zaremba, and classics from Quincy Jones, Frank Devol and Ernie Wilkins. Make sure to check out our upcoming shows page to keep up with the band and we’ll be adding more dates soon!

If you haven’t booked your summer dates contact us soon and we’ll set up a great show from classic Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra big band shows to new jazz features! Also it’s never too early to start planning for your fall and winter 2020 events. Contact us at booking@nightstarjazzorchestra.com.

We’ll see you at the show!

The Night Star Jazz Orchestra is exited to announce two new vocal acts for 2018.

Vox Nuvo is a new jazz vocal quartet singing with the orchestra this year comprised of  Katrina Cannon (alto), Lisa Dengg (soprano), James Densley (tenor) and Tanner Linton (bass). The quartet brings the modern sounds of the New York Voices and the classic tunes of the big band era to the stage with the Night Star Jazz Orchestra. Vox Nuvo’s tight harmonies and swingin’ groove will get you moving out of your seat and on to the dance floor.

Tom Young joins us this year as our featured male vocalist. Tom has studied with jazz greats such as New Orleans natives Harry Connick, Jr and Wynton Marsalis. For the last ten plus years Tom has performed all over the world aboard major cruise lines, lived and worked heavily in Las Vegas, as well as traveled with some of the country’s premiere party bands. His sound is smooth and reminiscent of Chet Baker and Harry Connick, Jr. We’re happy to have Tom singing and performing on trumpet with the band.

Don’t miss these new voices with the Night Star Jazz Orchestra this year. We’re available to book shows that feature all of our vocal talent with a vocal jazz quartet, Andrews Sisters style trio and great solo vocalists for a stunning show you won’t forget.

Night Star Jazz Orchestra Student Composition Program Award Winners:

First Place: Tony Elison, University of Utah – “Eronel” – Arrangement
Second Place: Tom Call, New York University – “Tatsu” – Original
Honorable Mention: Clint Sudweeks, University of Utah – “G’s Blues” – Original

We would like to thank all the students who submitted charts to the composition award program this year.  Each chart has specific strengths and demonstrated that each student is willing to take risks and is advancing in their studies. The strength of the submissions for our inaugural year was very impressive.

Congratulations!

We’re exited to announce the first (hopefully annual!) student composition program sponsored by the Night Star Jazz Orchestra. We are opening applications for students in jazz composition to submit new and existing works produced while in school to be performed by the Night Star Jazz Orchestra. This year we are offering two awards of $250 each. We’re committed to helping jazz composition students bring their works to the community. While the funding isn’t very large it is an opportunity to work with other music professionals and to hone your composition and arranging skills.

We will be accepting applications for this year until Dec 5th, 2017. Awards will be announced by Dec 15th, 2017.  Your work will be chosen by a committee of educators and professionals from the Night Star Jazz Orchestra. Undergraduate seniors and masters students are encouraged to apply.

The orchestration for the works should be 5 woodwinds, 4 trombones, 5 trumpets, 4 rhythm. Works that include vibraphone are also accepted. Works with alternate orchestrations will be accepted but standard orchestrations are encouraged. Vocal compositions and arrangements (male tenor or female alto) are also accepted. Utah residents will be given preference but the program is open to all students at accredited Universities in the USA. (We’d like to have you there when your work is performed!) We’ll be planning a performance date in early 2018 to show off your work.

Here are the rules for the program:

• You must be currently registered at a University in a music program
• You must submit a short letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor
• Your work must be at least 50% completed by the time you apply
• A playable portion of your work should be available to be evaluated in a rehearsal

APPLICATION FORM

Questions: please email info@nightstarjazzorchestra.com