Jazz Students Explore New Orleans for GEL Trip

January 17, 2020

Six conservatory students traveled to New Orleans in January for a Global Experiential Learning (GEL) trip led by Auxiliary Adjunct Associate Professor of Jazz and Trumpet Craig Fraedrich, M.M., and Harrison Endowed Chair in Piano, Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Jazz Piano Robert Larson ’08, D.M.A. The trip was focused around attendance at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference (Jan. 8 through Jan. 11) and highlights included opportunities to connect with two conservatory alumni.

Ashlin Parker ’04 (Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies) is one of the leading voices on trumpet in New Orleans. He led a tour through the French Quarter, Jackson Square and Louis Armstrong Park for the group. Michael Christie ’17 (Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies) is working as a full-time musician in New Orleans and plays a wide variety of music.

The JEN conference featured performances by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (including Parker), a tribute to Dave Brubeck, and sessions throughout each day devoted to the teaching and performance of jazz.

Participants included Nick Leasure ’23 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology), Alex Lopez ’23 (Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies), Adam Abrams ’21 (Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies), James Looney ’19 (Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies), Isaac Williams ’21 (Bachelor of Arts in University Interdisciplinary Studies) and Jon Lu ’23 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology).