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Little Big Band

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Little Big Band is a hybrid group comprising six to eight horns and three to four rhythm performers that combines the ensemble and chart reading requirements of a big band with the improvisational freedom and expectations of a small group.

All students are expected to improvise and are encouraged to arrange/compose for the ensemble. Being smaller and more flexible than a big band, arrangements for the group can occasionally be comprised of sparse notations and be dependent upon improvisation. Concerts often include multiple student arrangements.

Members of the Little Big Band give you an insight into what it feels like to be part of this unique Shenandoah Conservatory ensemble, where members compose their own works and perform them with their peers, get great director feedback, and feel like they’re part of a great jazz lineage, courtesy of their instructors.

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Meet the Director

Craig FraedrichCraig Fraedrich received his undergraduate degree in jazz performance from North Texas State University and master’s degree from Arizona State University. He also studied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Banff Center for the Arts. He was awarded music scholarships at each of these institutions and won numerous solo awards at jazz festivals throughout the country. He was a winner of International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo competition and leader/director of the first student combo to perform at the International Jazz Educators Conference.

He spent over thirty-one years as a featured jazz trumpet soloist with The U.S. Army Blues, one of the nation’s premier full-time jazz ensembles. During that time he also served as the group’s musical director, trumpet section leader and group leader. He composed or arranged well over 100 pieces for the band and has traveled extensively both performing and serving as a clinician. In addition to visiting much of the United States, he has performed in Australia, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Germany, China, St. Thomas and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Fraedrich has pursued a significant solo career as well. He has released twelve CDs with his own groups and has appeared on dozens of others as a side-man. His 1994 release, So In Love (with Dave Liebman) reached number twelve in national jazz radio play according to Billboard Magazine. His most current release on Summit Records, All Through the Night, is now available.

Fraedrich has studied improvisation with Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, Chuck Marohnic, Rich Matteson, Dan Hearle, Jack Peterson, and Frank Puzzullo. Additionally, he cites the remaining faculty at the Banff Centre for the Arts (1985 – Dave Holland, John Abercrombie, Don Thompson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, and Julian Priester) as major influences. His principal trumpet teachers have included Dennis Najoom, Dr. Leonard Candelaria, Don Jacoby, Dr. Wayne Cook, Steve Kossoris, Chuck Tumlinson and Ken Van Winkle. Educational materials recordings are available for free download at www.craigfraedrichmusic.com.

He is a dedicated educator and has been a faculty member (Associate Professor) at Shenandoah Conservatory since 1989.

Audition Information

Membership to the Little Big Band is by audition only.

Instrumental Ensemble Audition Materials

Experience Shenandoah Conservatory

SHENANDOAH CONSERVATORY INVITES provides instrumental high school students multiple opportunities each year to make music with Shenandoah faculty, students and ensembles. Musicians playing string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will find events enabling intensive study with Shenandoah’s world-class faculty and the opportunity to make music alongside current conservatory students. Each of these events take place on Shenandoah’s beautiful Winchester campus.

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