CUJO is the University’s premier jazz ensemble. CUJO has performed in numerous professional venues in the UK and overseas on national and international tours, won gold awards in UK-wide big band competitions and have collaborated with world-famous musicians, composers and arrangers such as Mark Kavuma, Emma Rawicz, Steve Waterman, Mark Nightingale, Trish Clowes and Yazz Ahmed.
The group is a 19-strong jazz big band playing a wide variety of music, including arrangements performed by the leading big bands of today such as Bill Holman, Bob Curnow, NYJO, Bob Florence, and the Lincoln Center and Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestras. We do stay committed to our roots however – our pads feature the full repertory of standards, swing, and funk as well as a number of classic vocal charts.
We have years of experience playing many different styles – our primary focus is on our concert performances but we are also always in demand to perform for dance events including numerous Cambridge May Balls and private functions.
Rehearsals are held every Monday during full term from 7–10pm in Trinity Hall College’s Music Room, and this year for the first time we have regular coaching from top professional musicians thanks to support from the Centre for Music Performance.
The ensemble is for pianists, electric/acoustic bassists, guitarists, drummers, saxophonists, trumpeters, trombonists and vocalists with experience in jazz and big band performance. CUJO is particularly seeking two vocalists, a guitarist, trumpeters, trombonists, an alto saxophonist, and a tenor saxophonist for the 2023–24 season.
Entry into CUJO is by way of audition, which will be held on 30 September and 1 October 2023.
Sign up for an audition here
Keep in touch with CUJO on Facebook, Instagram and at www.cambridgeuniversityjazzorchestra.co.uk
Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra is a student-run ensemble supported by the Centre for Music Performance.
