48% of our jazz kids play secondary instruments

Teaching real-world jazz musicianship.

Every advanced jazz band has at least 10 charts in their book. Jazz Ensemble typically has 20-30.

24 shows this school year. (and counting) 

About Our Bands

The Bradley Jazz Ensemble has a rich history of producing some of the best Middle School Jazz Bands in our area. The Bradley Jazz Ensemble (formerly known as Bradley Jazz Band 1), has consistently won top honors at local and out of city jazz festivals and competitions. The Bradley Jazz Ensemble has been a featured ensemble with: OPERA San Antonio, KRTU - Jazz 91.7, Parker Jazz Club (Austin, TX); Jazz, TX (SATX Pearl), The Blue Star Arts Complex (SATX) and was selected to participate in 2019 The Midwest Clinic where we shared the stage with Doug Lawrence (Count Basie) Curtis Calderon (Four Freshman) and Michael Dease (University of Michigan - Freelancer). The Bradley Jazz Ensemble is directed by Karlos Elizondo, a top call lead trumpet player in the area who has toured with The Gap Band, The Latin Breed, and more. 

The Bradley Studio Jazz Band was created out of necessity due to the overwhelming number of talented musicians in our jazz class. We pulled kids from Jazz Ensemble (top group) and Jazz 2 (now Jazz Lab) to create another varsity ensemble with a slightly different twist. The Studio Jazz Band primarily plays new arrangements by their director, Mr. Miguel Vilas, who has toured with and arranged for Kid Rock, Miami Sound Machine, The Temptations, and more. Mr. Vilas has also won a Downbeat Award. The Studio Jazz Band typically comes in 2nd at competitions, only behind the Bradley Jazz Ensemble. This ensemble is primarily made up of 7th grade students.

The Bradley Jazz Lab is primarily a developmental group where students learn the fundamentals of swing and jazz musicianship. The Jazz Lab has 14 saxophone players, 11 of which play a different concert band instrument. This ensemble typically performs on par with the top jazz band at local middle school programs. The Jazz Lab is directed by Mr. Conner Smith, a bassoonist and saxophonist that has learned how to teach jazz under the leadership of Mr. Elizondo & Mr. Vilas. 

The Bradley Beginner Jazz Band consists of only beginner band students and begins the second semester of the school year. 2022-23 was the first year of our beginner jazz band and we took home top ratings at festivals and received outstanding soloist awards for our 6th graders that were playing fully improvised solos. 80% of our french horn class is learning trumpet and participating in Beginner Jazz. The Beginner Jazz Band is co-taught by all jazz band directors and several of the advanced jazz band student musicians. 

The Bradley Jazz Combo has 11 students and focuses on developing high level improvisation skills. The combo often rehearses themselves with a student leader, but Mr. Vilas is their official director. This group learns head tunes and changes, then performs with extended solo breaks on every chart. They have performed at venues like Blue Star Arts Complex and the San Antonio Airport. 

The Bradley Jazz Program just finished our 2024 Texas Tour, a 4-day tour with performances at a district gala in Helotes, Parker Jazz Club in Austin, Jazz, TX and the Blue Star Arts Complex in San Antonio. All four of our advanced jazz bands performed on the tour. The Jazz Ensemble performed 11 charts every night, Studio Jazz performed 7, and Jazz Lab and Jazz Combo each performed 5 charts on the final night of the tour. The tour featured guest artists Dr. Andy Cheetham, Adam Carillo, and a vocal trio from OPERA San Antonio.