Performing Groups

All ensembles, including Chorus, Large Jazz Ensemble, Small Jazz Ensemble, and Latin band, are open to all qualified students. Consult the director of each group for information about application and audition procedures.

     Concert Series

Faculty members, students, and visiting performers present concerts in Aaron Davis Hall or in the Recital Hall (Shepard 95) from September to May. Performances are also given at the CUNY Graduate Center on special occasions. A schedule of events is published every semester and is available from the Music Office (212-650-5411).

To request a PDF file of the concert schedule contact the department secretary at erodriguez@ccny.cuny.edu.

     CUNY Jazz Festival

The CUNY Jazz Festival is held every spring at Aaron Davis Hall. Presented in cooperation with Jazz at Lincoln Center, it is a showcase for the best student bands from CUNY and selected area high schools. Each year a world-class artist is invited to perform with the student ensembles as well as their own group. Recent guest artists have included Dave Liebman, Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Luciana Souza, and Adam Rogers.

     Visiting Artist Series

• Fred Hersch Master Class: Each semester a traditional master class is conducted by the gifted teacher and renowned pianist Fred Hersch, a unique artist who Downbeat magazine referred to as “one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation.”
• Master Class Series: Each semester two master classes are given by a variety of invited jazz artists such as Dave Liebman, Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely, The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Dick Oatts, Norma Winstone, Dave Gilmore, Tim Ries, Jon Gordon, Charles Pillow, Pete McGuinness, Scott Wendholt, and John Stowell.
• Musicians’ Accord visits the campus twice each semester to read the works of student composers.
• Village Vanguard Orchestra: The music department is the rehearsal home of the world-famous Village Vanguard Orchestra. At these open rehearsals students have the opportunity to ask questions, watch “the books,” and listen to music that is at the core of big band repertoire, including charts by Thad Jones, Jim McNeely, Bob Brookmeyer and Slide Hampton. Students also get to observe their teachers at work since seven of the band members are CCNY private instructors. Formerly known as The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, The Village Vanguard Orchestra has been performing every Monday night at the Village Vanguard since 1965.

     Friends of Music

Friends of Music is an organization, open to all students, whose purpose is to promote and stimulate the performance of live music and foster a sense of camaraderie among our Music majors.