Jazz is one of the uniquely American art forms that has become one of the World’s treasures.

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The Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble(SJCE)

exists to create and perform new compositions by Pacific Northwest composers and arrangers while providing sustainable opportunities for continuing education and work advancement for professional musicians. Within this context SJCE strives to:

  • Provide the public with unique, compelling community events at the lowest cost possible.
  • Integrate cross-disciplinary elements to transcend the traditional concert format.
  • Showcase Pacific Northwest composers and musicians on a national level.
  • Channel public and private funding directly into the hands of artists for their work.

History:

SJCE was first conceived by co-directors Michael Owcharuk and Nate Omdal in 2007 as a means to produce unique, large concert events that address a big problem observed in the Seattle music community:  the lack of infrastructure enabling emerging professional musicians to be compensated for composing, arranging, and performing new, large ensemble music. After 2 years of club dates and grassroots concerts,  SJCE organized to presented 3 successful, large ensemble concert events by obtaining grants, cash and in-kind donations. SJCE has garnered media attention from the Seattle Times, The Stranger, and 94.9fm KUOW, and is an associated program of the non-profit fiscal sponsorship and consultation company Shunpike, a 501(c)(3). Additional community partners include: University Prep., The Frank Agency, J&J Music, Doogin Design, Middlefork Roasters, and The Lookout Pub.

To date SJCE has produced 3 major concert events:

  • Slava! Ukrainian Carols and New Christmas Music. Feb. 2009.  SJCE commissioned 6 local composers to create fresh arrangements of Ukrainian Carols and new companion pieces for a 7 piece ensemble. Funded by a grant from the Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Ukrainian American Club of WA, and its members.
  • SJCE presents: Birth of the Cool. Aug. 2009. SJCE performs the original scores to the Miles Davis classic album, utilizing the same instrumentation as the record. SJCE also commissioned 6 composers to write new works for this instrumentation.  Click the link to read the Seattle Times feature article. “The Birth of Something Cool.”
  • SJCE presents: Jazz Impressions of Ennio Morricone. Feb. 2010.  SJCE commissioned 7 local composers to create new arrangements of the work of legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.  The work was performed by a 17 piece ensemble and funded by a grant from the Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. Listen to Michael Owcharuk being interviewed by Jeremy Richards of NPR, KUOW 94.9fm, Seattle, WA, about Morricone’s work:

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Future programming:

  • Chef/Composer Pairing Series. Local chefs and composers will be paired to create a multi-course meal with companion music based on a theme. The  seasonal events will feature seasonal and sustainable foods produced by local farmers.
  • 20th Century American Composers.  Presenting the works of 20th Century American Composers such as Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Zappa, John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Harry Partch, arranged for a 17-piece big band.
  • Open Call.  SJCE will put out an open call to Puget Sound and Portland area composers to write new music for a 17-piece big band, to be performed in a free, public concert. Composers will be selected by blind jury process to have their pieces performed and professionally recorded.

For more information or to find out how you can get involved, please contact co-director Michael Owcharuk with the form in the right sidebar.  SJCE needs all the help we can get. Please make a donation. All proceeds fund programming and the majority goes to pay composers and musicians for their work.

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Here is video of Michael Owcharuk’s composition Henry Darger, performed by SJCE: