Department of Performing Arts

Orbert Davis
UIC Associate Professor, Director of Jazz Studies
The Chicago Tribune’s “1995 Arts People of the Year” and one of seven “Chicagoans of
the Year for 2002,” Orbert Davis is one of Chicago’s busiest and most sought after
jazz artists.
Faculty:
A
ri Brown Applied Jazz Saxophone
N
icole Mitchell Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, Applied Jazz Flute,
Creative Music Ensemble
S
tewart Miller Applied Jazz Bass
Z
vonimir Tot Assistant Conductor, Jazz Theory and Keyboard, Small Jazz
Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Applied Jazz Guitar
University of Illinois
at Chicago
E
rnie Adams Percussion Ensemble, Applied Jazz Drums and Percussion
www.uic.edu/depts/adpa/
He has recorded over 2500 television and radio commercials and other projects including
arrangements and on-camera performances for feature films such as “A League of Their
Own,” starring Tom Hanks, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell for Columbia Pictures and
“The Babe,” starring John Goodman. He was the jazz consultant for Academy Award winning director, Sam Mendes, for the DreamWorks Pictures feature film “Road to Perdition,”
starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, where he also had a cameo appearance.
College of Architecture and the Arts
Department of Performing Arts
1040 W Harrison St, MC255
Chicago IL 60607-7130
Davis has a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a Masters of Music in Jazz
Pedagogy from Northwestern University. In addition to being a world-renowned jazz
musician, he is a composer and conductor and the Founding and Artistic Director for the
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, a 56-member professional orchestra that specializes in
classical-jazz, cross-genre productions.
—Chicago Sun-Times
UIC Instructors are well-known
working professionals in the field of jazz
in Chicago and throughout the world.
Photo by Kenneth Muhammed.
“UIC is one of the fastest growing urban universities in the country”
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PAID
Chicago, IL
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Orbert Davis
Jaz z
at
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department of Performing Arts
where
why
Professional training for motivated
individuals in pursuit of a life in music.
3 minutes from the heart of
downtown Chicago.
Photo by Jess Myers.
BA IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE
—JAZZ CONCENTRATION
Because the music profession
is so diverse, the major curriculum
at the University of Illinois at Chicago
emphasizes skills and knowledge
that are fundamental to the entire
discipline: music theory, music
history, performance, aural and
keyboard training, orchestration,
composition, conducting,
and ensemble participation.
course descriptions:
Jazz History A non-technical survey of the
history and development of jazz from its West
African roots to contemporary styles
Jazz Aesthetics A topical course that covers
factors and topics that permeate the study,
development and production of jazz
Jazz Improvisation A study of the techniques and
methods of jazz improvisation
Jazz Theory and Keyboard An introduction to the
basic language of the rhythmic, melodic, harmonic
and structural aspects of jazz
Jazz Composition and Arranging Concentration on
UIC Education in Jazz
Get Informed. Get Experience.
One minute from the train to Chicago’s world-renowned Art Institute,
The Theatre District, the Lyric Opera, Millennium Park, Symphony Center
and the Museum Campus
Walking distance to Greektown and the historic Maxwell and Taylor Street districts
Education in Jazz at the University of Illinois at Chicago is designed for the student seeking a
professional career in jazz and related fields of contemporary music. Our philosophical objective
is to develop the special talents of the creative jazz artist as well as the flexible skills required of
the successful, well-rounded musician through information, exposure and experience.
Home of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
Brand new student dormitories and state-of-the-art recreation facilities
Off-campus housing also available
Chicago provides a busy and diverse working environment for jazz, classical, and commercial
musicians, and many students find professional playing opportunities off campus. The students
of UIC can experience all that the Chicago jazz community has to offer. This experience includes
many opportunities for exposure and interaction with organizations and events such as:
developing compositional and orchestration skills
in various jazz and commercial styles, and a survey
of the art of music notation and score preparation
using Finale software
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
at Symphony Center
The Jazz Institute of Chicago
Chicago Cultural Center
The Association for the Advancement
of Creative Musicians
Millennium Park’s Made in Chicago Series
The Chicago Jazz Festival
Music is part of UIC Performing Arts which includes the Theatre Program
Performing Arts is housed in the College of Architecture and the Arts, which also
includes Architecture, Art and Design and Art History.
The
Jazz
the preparation and public performance of music
from the big band repertoire. The jazz ensemble
performs at various events across the UIC campus
and Chicago community
Small Jazz Ensemble This ensemble focuses
on performance techniques within the historical
development of the American jazz ensemble
According to U.S. News & World Report,
UIC is “one of the most diverse and
affordable universities in the nation”
Most affordable jazz program in the
Chicago area
Generous scholarships available
Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Lake Effects) An emphasis on
learning jazz ensemble techniques and the performance of new and standard vocal jazz repertoire
Applied Lessons UIC Instructors are well-known
working professionals in the field of jazz
Photo by Jess Myers.
how
Large Jazz Ensemble Practical experience in
Photo by Lauren Deutsch.
Photo by Jess Myers.
For admission to the jazz and performance
options, students are required to audition.
For information about admission and auditions,
call 312.996.2977, email [email protected]
or visit our website www.uic.edu/depts/adpa
For general information about the university,
applications, tours, tuition and curriculum visit
the University website www.uic.edu/depts/oar