The University of Wyoming Jazz Studies Program will present an evening of big band music featuring the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Lab Big Band with guest artist Ryan Middagh on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts concert hall.
The event highlights a collaboration between student musicians and a nationally recognized jazz educator, offering audiences an opportunity to experience diverse styles such as swing, fusion, and Afro-Cuban jazz performed by UW’s premier big band.
Ryan Middagh is described as a DownBeat award-winning educator, saxophonist, composer, and scholar who serves as chair of the Department of Jazz and Global Music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. He performs internationally in various genres and has led tours for the U.S. Department of State. In Nashville, he leads the Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra comprised of top studio and touring musicians.
Middagh’s work includes numerous commissions as a composer with arrangements performed by artists like Victor Wooten, Wycliffe Gordon, and Jeff Coffin. He is also noted for his advocacy for jazz education across different communities through creative programming initiatives. Additionally, he serves as an official artist and clinician for Yamaha Saxophones and D’addario Reeds while contributing to professional development programs through the Jazz Education Network.
The Wyoming Jazz Ensemble is known for its international performances and collaborations with high-level guest artists. The ensemble regularly receives recognition at national jazz festivals.
Tickets are available online or at the Performing Arts box office during business hours or before performances.
