Jazz trumpeter Derrick Gardner has been appointed Director of Jazz Studies at the Bienen School of Music. He has served as Interim Director of Jazz Studies since September 2022.
“This change in title recognizes Mr. Gardner’s valuable work and dedication as leader of the jazz studies program,” said Jonathan Bailey Holland, dean of the Bienen School of Music. “I appreciate his commitment to building a strong jazz program at Northwestern and look forward to the program’s continued growth under his direction.”
At the Bienen School, Gardner leads the Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra and also directs one of the Jazz Small Ensembles. He has doubled the number of jazz concerts presented each quarter and also introduced a new Northwestern University Jazz Ensemble in fall 2023.
“Our expanded jazz offerings will further extend the jazz footprint here at Northwestern University and in Evanston as a whole,” said Gardner. “[The] newly formed Northwestern University Jazz Ensemble offers invaluable experiences and opportunities for undergraduate jazz majors, non-jazz majors, and non-music majors to continue sharpening their skills.”