University Jazz Ensemble

There is a long history of student jazz bands at the University. They went by a variety of names, and were extracurricular. One of the first important ones was The Southern Collegians, formed in 1923. A group by the same name was organized in 1950 by Brian Shanley '55. In the late 70s it was called the Jazz Ensemble. By 1980 it had become the Generals of Jazz, before being reformed by professor Robert Stewart as the Jazz Lab Band in 1983. It even was called The W&L Swing for two years starting in 2011.

The University Jazz Ensemble, the current incarnation, was founded in 1996 by Terry Vosbein as an academic course within the Department of Music. For over a quarter of a century the band has performed annual concerts on campus, showcasing the many talented students that have passed through its ranks. Additionally, they have performed in cities such as Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Atlanta, and have toured Russia, China, and Greece.