Blair Big Band

The Blair Big Band will present a collaborative concert, Solidarity, on February 23. The award-winning Blair Big Band, directed by Ryan Middagh, will present a special concert event on Friday, February 23, entitled Solidarity: An Evening of Creative Collaborations. The performance will feature Blair School of Music students, faculty,… Read More

Felix Pastorius, acclaimed jazz bassist, member of the Yellowjackets and Hipster Assassins and son of late jazz legend Jaco Pastorius, will perform with the Blair Big Band and Blair Jazz Choir on their season-ending concert, 8 p.m. Dec. 4 in Ingram Hall. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin, the newest… Read More

Jenna Mangum, precollege violin student of Connie Heard, performs at a weekly studio class that includes both precollege and college students. Photo by Susan Urmy   Most undergraduate students don’t have much contact with younger or older learners during their college years. They inhabit a sort of… Read More

Thursday, December 4 8 p.m., Ingram Hall TICKETED EVENT Ryan Middagh, director of Blair Big Band Jim Williamson, director of Nashville Jazz Orchestra A winter jazz showcase combining the talents of our own Blair Big Band with resident professional ensemble the Nashville… Read More

On February 18, the Blair School lost our beloved Big Band director and jazz instructor Billy Adair. Adair’s impact and influence on our students, faculty and community can not be overstated. He was mentor and musician, faculty and friend. In celebration of Adair’s life, a special tribute… Read More

The Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University seeks a full-time senior lecturer in jazz, to begin in Fall 2014. Duties include coordinating the jazz studies area, directing the Big Band, teaching courses in improvisation, jazz chord theory, jazz styles for teacher-education students, and possibly other teaching responsibilities as appropriate. Read More

  February 18, 2014 Media contacts: Kristin Whittlesey (615) 322-7656 kristin.whittlesey@vanderbilt.edu Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu William “Billy” Adair, a teacher, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and backbone of the jazz program at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music, has died. He was 66. Adair,… Read More