About Us
Student-Run Big Band at the University of Pennsylvania
Penn Jazz is a short name for the student-run Jazz Ensemble at the University of Pennsylvania. The group is student-run and led, with the assistance of musical director Skyler Hagner. The group was formed in the fall of 1973, and since then, has performed with numerous jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, the Count Basie Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, and most recently, Christian McBride. We perform a show towards the end of each semester to exhibit our work in learning and mastering big band arrangements, among other tunes. Our performances are healthily attended by Penn students, Penn faculty, and friends and family.
Bookings
Penn Jazz boasts a roster of over 20 musicians that can speak, collaborate, and entertain using their diverse knowledge of the jazz idiom. We have sent out all kinds of musicians to hired gigs, from solo pianists to jazz sextets. Learn more about hiring our musicians at our Bookings / Contact page or email us via the form below.
Auditions
We are excited to add new faces to Penn Jazz. Our group is ever-growing and evolving, and we even audition new musicians when at full capacity. Find more information on our Auditions page or email us via the form below. We can't wait to meet you. Come join our jazz community at Penn!