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Unbeatable Value

The Jazz Studiest program at UW–Eau Claire blends world-class artistry with a uniquely supportive all-undergraduate environment. Here, every student shares the same four-year journey — no graduate competition, just peers fully invested in their craft and eager to collaborate. With direct access to renowned faculty and opportunities to lead ensembles, record albums, and perform regularly, students are immersed in real-world learning from the start.

Set along the Chippewa River, UWEC’s “just right” campus combines small-school 

community with big-school opportunities. Eau Claire itself is ranked the #1 place to live in Wisconsin and top 50 nationally — celebrated for its thriving arts scene, walkable neighborhoods, and affordable cost of living (average in-state tuition is $18,071). The city’s supportive music community offers the perfect proving ground to launch projects locally and grow them regionally — with the Twin Cities just 75 minutes away, it’s easy to take your music from Eau Claire to larger stages and audiences. This progression is built into our teaching model — students are encouraged to launch projects in Eau Claire’s supportive community, refine and grow them in the surrounding region, and ultimately bring their music to larger markets like the Twin Cities and beyond

Legacy + Real-World Experience

With 18 critically acclaimed CD releases, UW–Eau Claire Jazz Ensembles have built a legacy that blends tradition with forward-thinking artistry. Jazz Ensemble I has earned seven DownBeat “Best College Big Band” awards and two Grammy nominations, solidifying its place among the nation’s elite.

 

From day one, students live the careers they aspire to — forming bands, recording albums, and gigging professionally while still in school. With Eau Claire’s thriving music scene and the Twin Cities just 75 minutes away, performance opportunities range from intimate jazz clubs to Broadway-caliber productions.

  • Four Big Bands & Nine Combos

  • Three Professional Recording Studios

  • Perform for the Eau Claire Jazz Festival

  • Business Internships with Eau Claire Jazz, Inc. AND UW-Eau Claire Jazz Studies

  • Live jazz every night in the community

  • Student-led groups

  • Access to Grammy-winning faculty

UW–Eau Claire Jazz Studies fosters a culture of mentorship and collaboration. Students not only work closely with faculty but also mentor and support one another, building opportunities that reflect their own vision and future goals. Guided by world-class faculty, students learn to market their groups, record and produce albums, and explore entrepreneurship — gaining the skills needed for today’s music industry

From Campus to the World Stage 

Preparing students for post-college while IN college

It is strongly recommended that Jazz Area students seek employment involving training in their future profession during the school year and summer. Because of its reputation, UW-Eau Claire Jazz students have been extremely successful in attaining assistantships for post graduate work, summer jobs in professional performing and educational settings.

The following is an abbreviated list of summer positions held by students in the past while currently enrolled in UWEC:

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  • National Touring Broadway Shows

  • International Cruise Ship Contracts

  • DisneyLand All-American College Band

  • DisneyWorld All-American Orchestra

  • Broadway shows at the Orpheum, Ordway, Lyric Arts and Artistry theatre in the Twin Cities.

  • Kids from Wisconsin

  • ValleyFair Amusement Park stage band

Alumni Highlights

The impact of UW-Eau Claire Jazz Studies extends far beyond campus

Through Alumni Highlights, we share the achievements of graduates whose careers span Grammy-nominations, Broadway tours, world-stages and tenured professorships. Weather a student wants music to be their entire career, or only a portion of their life, UW-Eau Claire Jazz Studies creates an atmosphere where any dream is encouraged within the culture.

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