Featured Composers

Christopher Merz

• Current Director of Jazz Studies at UNI

• Lead tenor player in the IJCO

• Prolific composer — frequently commissioned by university and high school big bands throughout the country

• Band Leader/Composer for Christopher’s Very Happy. Band.

Mike Conrad

• Current Assistant Professor of Jazz & Music Education at UNI

• Founder and Artistic Director of the IJCO

• Winner of 4 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards and 7 DownBeat Awards

• Awards and commissions from the Contemporary Music Academy in Beijing, the Bundesjazzorchester of Germany, the Airmen of Note, and many other organizations

Bob Washut

• Emeritus Faculty at UNI, where he taught for 38 years, serving as Director of Jazz Studies from 1980–2002

• Recipient of numerous commissions from ensembles, jazz artists and symphony orchestras

• Has conducted all-state jazz bands in 16 states and served as jazz composer-in-residence at several universities

• Founder and leader of Orquesta Alto Maiz, which recorded 10 CDs and performed internationally.