Honors Jazz/Commercial Music Ensembles Festival

The TU Honors Jazz/Commercial (JC) Music Ensembles Festival, held in partnership with the Murray Jazz Residency (MJR), offers selected students the chance to work with the TU JC faculty, the MJR visiting artist, and current TU music students in a full day of masterclasses, ensemble rehearsals, and a culminating concert at the Towson University Center for the Arts.

Festival Dates

The festival is offered twice per year, in the fall and spring semesters, in conjunction with the Murray Jazz Residency.

Important Dates

• Next Festival Date: Friday, November 20, 2026
• Featuring MJR Guest Artist: Cameron Brown (bassist)
• Nominations are open now!
• Nominations close: Monday, October 12, 2026
• Selected students notified: Monday, October 26, 2026

Who Can Apply?

Students from across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region may be nominated in two ways:

• by a high school band director (up to 4 students)
• self-nomination for students without access to a band program

Students interested in jazz and commercial music are strongly encouraged to apply!

Selection and Audition Process

• Selection is based on the nomination form and instrumentation needs.
• Selected students will be notified via email by October 26, 2026.
• All participants must submit a video audition (used only for ensemble placement).
• Maximum of 40 students per event.
• Priority is given to:
  
  • 12th graders
  • 11th graders
  • 10th graders
• Students not accepted will receive priority for future festivals.
  • Nominations open now
  • Nominations close October 12, 2026

Festival Highlights

Participants will work with:

• TU jazz/commercial music faculty
• the MJR guest artist
• current TU jazz/commercial students

They will take part in:

• instrument-specific masterclasses
• small and large ensemble rehearsals
• a final concert performance

Ensembles may include:

• jazz orchestra
• combos
• commercial music ensembles (based on instrumentation)

Participation Fee

The participation fee is $38 and includes:

• festival t-shirt
• on-campus lunch (hosted by TU Jazz/Commercial students)
• two complimentary tickets to the evening concert

Additional concert tickets may be purchased through the TU Box Office. Band directors and parents are welcome to attend all festival activities and the concert at no cost. Registration is required using the same form as the student participants.

Who Will You Work With?

Faculty and Directors

Guest Artist

About the Guest Artist

Bassist, composer and educator Cameron Brown began his career in the mid-1960s, recording in Europe with George Russell and Don Cherry. These important innovators remain life-long inspirations and influences, along with early mentors and band leaders Sheila Jordan, Roswell Rudd, Archie Shepp and Beaver Harris. Mr. Brown has anchored some of the most important ensembles of the past fifty years, including Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and various ensembles led by Dewey Redman, Don Cherry, Dannie Richmond, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Terumasa Hino, Mal Waldron, Marco Tamburini, Betty Carter, Houston Person/Etta Jones, Lou Donaldson, Lisa Sokolov, Jim McNeely, Joe Locke, Dave Ballou, Salvatore Bonafede, George Cables, Tony Malaby, and Carl Størmer (Jazz Code). The Don Pullen/George Adams Quartet, featuring Dannie Richmond, developed into an intense and rewarding partnership which lasted nearly ten years, and Mr. Brown has enjoyed special relationships with master drummers Philly Joe Jones, Edward Blackwell, Ben Riley, Eddie Moore, Idris Muhammad, Billy Hart, Joe Chambers, Lewis Nash, and Matt Wilson. He has helped young people around the world nurture their passion for jazz and is on the faculty of the New School University. At present, Mr. Brown performs and records with Sheila Jordan in a long-standing Bass and Voice duo (20+ years), and with Joe Lovano, Rob Scheps, Jason Rigby, Neils Vincentz, Jane Ira Bloom, Jay Clayton, Don Byron, Harvey Diamond, Lena Bloch, Russ Lossing, Billy Mintz, Krzysztof Popek, John Bailey, Kazuki Yamanaka, Kristen Lee Sergeant and the Royal Bopsters.

About the Murray Jazz Residency

Founded in 2008, the Murray Jazz Residency brings internationally acclaimed jazz and improvisation artists to Towson University for a full week of engagement with the Department of Music.

These artists serve as living examples of how one can carve out a meaningful and sustainable path in creative music today.  Through masterclasses, rehearsals, and performances, they inspire students to pursue their own artistic voice with dedication and vision.

Alumni at the Core

Notably, TU alumnus Drew Gress and Ellery Eskelin have served as recurring guest artists, offering students direct connections to Towson's legacy of excellence in jazz and improvised music.

The MJR is made possible by the generosity of Bill Murray, Vira J. Denney, and the Murray Family.

Consider joining the Murray family by donating to the Murray Jazz Residency Fund.