JAZZ STUDIES

The Drury University Jazz Ensembles maintain an active performance schedule on campus and in the community. They perform at a variety of events including Parent's Weekend, University Day, Music Day, and for the Alumni Association. These groups also present formal concerts each semester and provide exciting entertainment for all home basketball games. The Drury Jazz Ensembles make regional or extended tours each year. Past performance cites have included: the Hawaiian Islands, Walt Disney World, Tulsa, Dallas, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. 

Each March, Drury hosts the Drury Jazz Festival, Missouri's oldest Jazz Festival, attracting high school bands from Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. This festival has attracted such artists as the big bands of Stan Kenton and Count Basie, as well as individual performers including Doc Severnson, Bill Waltrous, Kim Park, Clay Jenkins, Mike Metheny, and Mike Steinel. 

The Drury Jazz Camp is the oldest camp in the state of Missouri, and has a long-standing tradition of excellence dating back to the fifties and sixties when the great bandleader Stan Kenton was running the camp.  Click here to download the camp brochure.

The camp takes place on the campus of Drury University in the Mabee Center for the Performing Arts. Drum sets are provided. A limited number of amps are also available--please check ahead of time for availability. Other instruments and equipment are the responsibility of the individual student.

The camp is open to high school and middle school students 13 years and older with a minimum of one year experience on their instrument, as well as to adults with previous experience on a jazz instrument (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass or drums). Previous experience in jazz is not necessary!

Daily activities include rehearsals, masterclasses, jazz theory, improvisation, listening, and jam sessions. In addition, the Drury Jazz Camp Faculty will perform each evening of the camp. Thursday evening’s and Friday afternoon’s concerts will feature performances by the student combos and big bands.

For more information, please contact Tina Claussen at 417-873-7296 or email at cclaussen@drury.edu 

Contact informaton:
E-mail Tina Claussen