Jazz Ensemble & Combos

The Jazz Ensemble is a curricular band that meets each day as a class the same as all of the other band classes and received honors credit. This is a top tier group with a small group jazz combo component.

Whitney Young jazz students have performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024), New Trier Jazz Festival (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019), Elmhurst College Jazz Festival (2017, 2025), UIC Jazz Festival (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025), and Evanston Jazz Festival (2016), and the Purdue Jazz Festival (2023, 2024, 2025). Performances have also been presented at the Jazz Showcase and Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago, and at the Palm Court Jazz Café in New Orleans. The Jazz Ensemble was honored to be a featured performance group at the 2019 Illinois Music Education Conference. The Jazz Combo recently won the combo division at the 2025 Purdue Jazz Festival.

Whitney Young jazz students have been honored to share the stage with Scott Hesse, Common, Greg Ward, Victor Garcia, Geof Bradfield, Tito Carrillo, Thaddeus Tukes, and the Lowdown Brass Band. Clinicians and artists that have worked with our students include Terrence Blanchard, Marcus Printup, Sherman Irby, Vincent Gardner, Bob Lark, Antonio Garcia, and Ron Carter.  They are also members of the Ravinia Jazz Scholars and CYSO's Jazz Orchestra as well as the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Links Student Council and Women's Leadership Initiative.