UNO Jazz Camp 2023

Strauss Performing Arts Center – The UNO College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media's School of Music welcomed 165 students from 7th-12th grades to the Strauss Performing Arts Center for the 14th Annual Jazz Camp. This year's camp started Wednesday, June 5, and went until Sunday, June 9.

Watch a video about the UNO Jazz Camp

The majority of the students come from a 60 mile radius of Omaha and several from Lincoln. However, this year the camp had a student from Grand Island, Nebraska and one from Pierce, Nebraska as well as a few from Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Pete Madsen, Jazz Camp director, stated that in addition to the middle and high school students, the camp also had 20 current UNO students take part.

"The camp has proven to be an extremely effective recruiting tool. There are many students at UNO today as a result of their positive experience at past UNO Jazz Camps. Many of these students are majoring in something other than music!" - Dr. Madsen

Madsen also shared, "In its 14 years, the UNO Jazz Camp has impacted over 1,000 students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the music business. Camp alumni are professional musicians, college music professors, public school teachers, and music store managers. Others have gone on to law school and medical school. Many current UNO students and alumni from all majors made their college decision in part based on their jazz camp experience."

Jazz Camp students get the opportunity to take part in various classes, workshops and performances during the camp. Some of courses included sessions on theory, improvisation, and group listening as well as taking part in one of five concerts with the Jazz Camp All-Star Band.

Guest artists/teachers flew in from all over the country, including top musicians from Los Angeles and New York to lead classes and offer advice and instruction. This year's lead guest clinician was Willie Murillo from Los Angeles, California.

The UNO Jazz Camp partners for 2023 include Nebraska Diamond, Thompson Music, North Omaha Music & Arts, Dietze Music, Schmitt Music, Concepts Salon, and Wohlenhaus Appraisal Service.