Skip to main content
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • Campus Connection
    • Employee Self-Service
    • Hawk Central
    • Degree Map
    • Zoom
  • Directory
  • Calendar
  • Scope of this search:
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Arts & Sciences
  • About
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Research & Creative Work
University of North Dakota
  • About
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Research & Creative Work
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
Scope of this search:
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
Scope of this search:
College of Arts & Sciences
  • Home
  • Academics
  • Music
  • Ensembles
  • Jazz Ensembles
Skip Section Navigation
  • Music
  • Program Information Show/hide children
    • Courses
    • Student Organizations
  • Ensembles Show/hide children
    • Athletic Bands
    • Chamber Ensembles
    • Choirs
    • Concert Bands
    • Jazz Ensembles
    • Orchestra
    • Red River Trio
    • Singing on Stage
  • Performance Areas Show/hide children
    • Woodwind Studies
    • Brass Studies
    • Percussion Studies
    • Piano Studies
    • String Studies
    • Voice Studies
  • Prospective Students Show/hide children
    • Undergraduate Scholarships
    • Graduate Admissions & Support
    • Accepted Students
  • Events Show/hide children
    • Live Stream
    • UND Honor Festival
    • UND Percussion Day
    • Professional Development Workshop Series
  • Community Music Lessons
  • Department Resources Show/hide children
    • Student Resources
    • Faculty Resources and Information
    • Facilities
    • Music Library
  • Faculty & Staff
  •  

Jazz Ensembles

UND Music's Jazz Ensembles include Big Band Jazz, Jazz Combos, and the Rock & Rhythm Review.

Big Band Jazz

The University of North Dakota Jazz Ensembles play a wide variety of big band repertoire and perform for many events both on and off campus. With over 40 years of history, UND's Jazz Ensembles have a reputation of excellence and have earned numerous accolades and awards over the years including a coveted main stage performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Entrance is limited to traditional big band instruments: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion.

One O'clock Jazz Ensemble

MUSC 273, Section 02
MoWeFr 1:25PM - 2:15PM
Director: Rob Brooks

Twelve O'clock Jazz Ensemble

MUSC 273, Section 01
MoWeFr 12:20PM - 1:10PM
Director: Dr. Jason Kihle

Two O'clock Jazz Band

MUSC 273, Section 03
MoWe 2:30-3:20
Director: Dr. Cory Driscoll

Jazz Combos

Jazz combos—dedicated to playing small group jazz—consist of a rhythm section (bass, drums, piano or guitar) and one to four other instruments, depending on balance and ability level. Combos are open to players of all instruments, as well as vocalists.

Combos traditionally meet once per week at agreed upon times and perform at different times and events throughout the semester. Contact Rob Brooks for more information.

The UND Rock & Rhythm Review

The UND Rock & Rhythm Review is a select ensemble that performs for the UND men's and women's basketball games and concerts at UND and throughout the region. It is an extended jazz band set-up with a full rhythm section.

Covering rock hits from today, horn band hits from the 60's, 70's, & 80's to hard swinging jazz classics, the UND Rock & Rhythm Review has over 200 charts in rotation at any given time. In 2005, this band was voted "Best Basketball Band in the Nation for Division II Athletics." Audiences and crowds are always pleased by our high level of preparation and performance.

Contact Rob Brooks for more information.

Jazz Audition Schedule

All students must audition. Auditions are 10 minutes in length and are done on a first come, first serve basis, on the announced audition day. Improvisation is optional.

Contact Rob Brooks with questions or for more information about auditions.

Audition Materials

Saxes Audition Materials
  • Alto Sax
  • Tenor Sax
  • Bari Sax
Trumpet Audition Materials
  • Lead Trumpet
  • Trumpet
Trombone Audition Materials
  • Trombone
  • Bass Trombone
Saxophone and Brass Audition Details
  • Major scales in the concert keys of Bb, Eb, and F and a chromatic scale across the range of the instrument. This is to assess basic tone quality and instrumental proficiency.
  • A short prepared piece for your instrument that can be found above.
  • A short sight-reading example that will be provided at the audition. Special sight reading may be asked for players with an interest and/or ability to play lead trumpet, lead trombone, or bass trombone.
  • A short improvised solo is optional. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.

Guitar Audition Materials
  • Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
Piano Audition Materials
  • Piano
Guitar/Piano and Bass Player Auddition Details
  • The prepared piece that can be found on the link above.
  • A short sight reading example that will include chord symbol reading as well as note reading.
  • A short improvised solo is required only for Guitar. It is optional for Piano and Bass. You will be asked to improvise either to a blues in the key of concert F or Bb. A recorded accompaniment will be provided at the audition. You may also bring in your own accompaniment CD if you choose.Guitar and Piano players should have some basic knowledge of chord construction and comping. Bass players should have some basic knowledge of bass line construction and interpreting chord symbols. These are essential for combo participation.

Percussionist Audition Materials
  • Drum Set
Percussionists Audition Details
  • The prepared piece that can be found on the link above.
  • Play several different grooves in various tempos. Styles will include (but will not necessarily be limited to) swing, bossa, samba, funk, and different brush techniques.
  • Sight-read an excerpt of a big band drum part that includes fills and setups.

Jazz Ensemble Directors

Photo of Rob Brooks
Rob Brooks
M.M.
Associate Director of Bands - Director of the Pride of the North Bands/Jazz
  • william.brooks2@UND.edu
  • 701.777.4396
  • Hughes Fine Arts Center Room 158
    Grand Forks ND 58202-7125
Photo of Jason Kihle
Jason Kihle
Director of Percussion Studies
  • jason.kihle@UND.edu
  • Hughes Fine Arts Center
    Grand Forks ND 58202-7125
Photo of Cory Driscoll
Cory Driscoll
D.M.A.
Teaching Assistant Professor of Trumpet, Asst Director Bands/Jazz, Concert Recording Manager
Specialties: Trumpet Performance, Brass Chamber Music, Athletic Bands
  • cory.driscoll@UND.edu
  • 701.777.2715
  • Hughes Fine Arts Center Room 130
    Grand Forks ND 58202-7125
Music Department
Hughes Fine Arts Center Room 110
3350 Campus Rd Stop 7125
Grand Forks, ND 58202
P 701.777.2644
UND.music@UND.edu

 

Music Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.

College of Arts & Sciences

Columbia Hall, Room 1930
501 N Columbia Rd Stop 8038
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8038

UND.artssci@UND.edu |  701.777.2749
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Employment
  • Contact UND
  • Make a Gift
University of North Dakota

© 2025 University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND - Member of ND University System

  • Accessibility & Website Feedback
  • Terms of Use & Privacy
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Student Disclosure Information
  • Title IX
©