Director: Dr. Timothy Fischer

The CCU Jazz Ensemble features traditional big band instrumentation and vocalists, covering everything from early jazz to Stan Kenton, Radiohead, heavy metal, and contemporary jazz. The CCU Jazz Ensemble has premiered works and arrangements with Victor Wooten, Becca Stevens, Howard Levy, Jeff Coffin, and artist-in-residence Steve Bailey.

Director: Dr. Tim Fischer

Combos within the MCJ area focus on specific styles on an semester-to-semester basis, including: Funk, Fusion, Latin, Hard Bop, Rock, and Contemporary R&B, working extensively with an individual faculty coach. Each group has extensive opportunities to perform in public and record in the Wheelwright Recording studio. CCU combos have worked with a number of guest artists, including: The Dave Douglas Quintet, Victor Wooten, Derico Watson, Ron Miller, Kobie Watkins, Randy Napoleon, and Jeff Coffin. One of the previous groups, Oracle Blue, tours all over the United States, has recorded albums with national distribution, and performed at the 2016 Montreux, Vienne, and Umbria Jazz Festivals in Europe. In 2016 the ensemble won a downbeat student music award in the Undergraduate Pop/Blues category.

Pop 101

Director: Dan O’Reilly

POP 101 is a contemporary music ensemble at Coastal Carolina University. This dynamic group performs popular music in a rock band context.  Students who play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and horns, as well as vocalists, are encouraged to participate. Instrumentalists are expected to play by ear as well as read music. The ability to both sing and play an instrument is highly desirable. Vocalists must be able to harmonize and sing in a variety of popular styles.  All university students are welcome to audition for this ensemble.