SCHOOL OF MUSIC

ADMISSIONS &
FINANCIAL AID

ACADEMICS

FACULTY & STAFF
DIRECTORY

ENSEMBLES

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

CENTERS & INSTITUTES

MUSIC LIBRARY

CONTACT US

At USC there are many opportunities to perform in large and small ensembles. Our students typically take advantage of not only the various jazz bands, but also improve their skills and levels of experience by participating in everything from chamber groups to the symphonic bands and orchestra.

Big Bands: Performance opportunities with Carolina's big bands are available to all USC students by auditions held in the fall and spring semesters.

The Left Bank Big Band performs in a variety of settings including several formal concerts. The Left Bank often features well known jazz artists as guest soloists. The Left Bank Big Band frequently premiers arrangements and compositions written by USC jazz faculty and students. Swing Shift performs campus and community concerts featuring mainstream big band music from the Swing Era and beyond. The emphasis is on traditional big band music including that of Count Basie, Woody Herman, and Duke Ellington.

The Jazz Foundation is specifically designed to meet the needs of the music education student who had little or no jazz experience. The emphasis is on learning to play jazz figures and articulations in the correct style, and reviewing a variety of big band materials and teaching methods. The Jazz Foundation plays jazz concerts in informal settings.

Jazz Combos: These classes are open to students who have completed Jazz Theory I & II and Jazz Improvisation I - IV with a grade of B or better. Combos work independently and with supervision to prepare jazz standards, jazz classic material, and current jazz repertoire for various performances throughout the semester. The musicians have to learn how to work together, rehearse, and prepare music themselves. This class is a good example of how we prepare students for a music career by giving them the experience of being part of a real-world working band.

USC has traditional jazz combos, a Jazz Vocal Group, and a Jazz String Ensemble.

The USC JAZZ COMBOS are available for receptions and parties. For further information, please contact Bert Ligon at

Or visit the site: HIRING the USC JAZZ COMBOS

Each semester the big bands and combos give a formal concert and several informal concerts on and off campus. The combos play regularly on and off campus for formal and even some professional paying jobs. The big bands perform on campus in the Recital Hall in the new music building. Each year the Left Bank Big Band and the Bank Combo perform with a guest artist. Past guests have included: Louie Bellson, Steve Houghton, Marion McPartland, Bob Shephard, Steve Kujala, Bill Watrous, Marvin Stamm, Bill Holman, Jim McNeely, Randy Brecker, John Fedchock, Dick Oates, Dave Zoller, Ed Soph, Marcus Roberts Trio, The USC Army Blues Band, Mark O'Connor and Hot Swing, The Andy LaVerne Trio. The Music School is currently considering other exciting artists for future concerts.

The USC Jazz Strings performed at International Association of Jazz Educators Convention in January of 1999 with Darol Anger (founding member of Turtle Island String Quartet) as a guest soloist. Each semester the big bands and combos give a formal concert and several informal concerts on and off campus.