UCF Pegasus Professor and Jazz Studies director, Jeff Rupert, will be the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra’s new Jazz Orchestra’s conductor starting Fall 2017. The orchestra, a 17-20 piece ensemble, will feature middle and high school musicians from ages 13 to 20, and will focus on big band jazz music.
Rupert is an accomplished composer, saxophonist, record producer, and recording artist, who has been a featured soloist on records with artists including Sam Rivers, Mel Tormé, Maynard Ferguson, and Benny Carter. He is currently the leader of The Jazz Professors, directs The Flying Horse Big Band, and is the founder of Flying Horse Records.
The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Jazz Orchestra will increase the presence of UCF’s Music Department in the Orlando community, as well as assist in recruiting talented young musicians for the music program. Jazz Orchestra auditions will begin in May.
To learn more about the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, click here.