2022 UNT Jazz Education Network (JEN) Program

UNT JAZZ
reputation for excellence. The Two O’Clock Studies and to bring more of our students’
Lab band directed by Jim Riggs, the UNT work in core music classes into the jazz
Jazz Singers directed by Paris Rutherford, idiom. The student-led Jazz and Gender
the small group program and the Zebras Equity Initiative embodies our dedication
ensemble directed by Dan Haerle, and to diversity and inclusion.
the guitar ensembles coached by Fred
Hamilton had established traditions of
their own. The addition of a master’s
degree improved our ability to graduate
well-prepared educators.
Under the leadership of John Murphy from
2008 to 2019 and Rob Parton since then,
the program has maintained its standards
of excellence while adapting to a changing
music profession. The faculty have worked
steadily to revise the curriculum. Our
doctoral degree has produced successful
college educators. We’ve added options in
jazz strings and commercial music. Most
recently, the curriculum has been revised
to include a certificate in African American
Through all of these changes in
leadership, faculty, and curriculum,
one element has remained constant:
our focus on students and their musical
and professional growth. Our alumni
community extends to every corner of the
music profession. Alumni help our recent
graduates establish themselves in new
cities; they support the program as donors;
and by their varied demonstrations of
musical excellence they show our students
that there is no limit to what they can
achieve with a degree from UNT.
JOHN MURPHY,
Professor Emeritus
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
I am so pleased and honored to bring greetings to
the 13th national conference of the Jazz Education
Network from the University of North Texas College of
Music. Jazz enjoys such a special place in the history
and reputation of our institution, never more so
than this year as we celebrate the 75th anniversary
of Jazz Studies at UNT. You will find our faculty,
staff and students fully engaged throughout this
conference in concerts, workshops, exhibits and other
presentations. With your permission, let me be more
specific. This year…
• The UNT College of Music is a Presenting Sponsor of
the JEN Conference;
• The One O’Clock Lab Band® and Jazz Singers,
with guest artist Ignacio Berroa, will perform on the
Scholarship Concert Friday evening;
• Other UNT ensembles on the conference program
include the Latin Jazz Ensemble, the Two O’Clock Lab
Band, Third Street and Avenue C vocal jazz ensembles;
• We are hosting a College of Music alumni reunion on
Friday at 5:00 PM;
• We are participating in the Young Composer
Showcase;
• We are supporting the JAM sessions with students
each evening; and
• Most of our UNT Jazz faculty are contributing to the
conference program.
We are ALL IN for this year’s JEN program and honored
to be a part of this glorious celebration of America’s
art form. Truly honored.
Please accept my heartfelt best wishes for a
marvelous week. My wife, Jill, and I are here for the
entire conference, so please drop by our UNT booth
on the Exhibit floor to say hello. We look forward to an
historic conference of international consequence.
Sincerely,
JOHN W. RICHMOND, PH.D.
Professor and Dean of the UNT College of Music
UNT College of Music 3