Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra

University of Northern Iowa Professor and award-winning jazz composer Mike Conrad brings Iowa’s premiere large jazz ensemble to DeWitt for a special performance at the Central DeWitt Performing Arts Center. This 17-piece all-star band has performed in Des Moines (Hoyt Sherman Place, Noce), Cedar Rapids (CSPS Hall, Jazz Under the Stars), Iowa City (James Theater, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts), Cedar Falls (Oster Regent Theatre, River Place Plaza), and Davenport (Redstone Room, LeClaire Park). Their "Fertile Soil Suite" (2021) earned Mike Conrad a SONIC Award from the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers. The band plays music by Bob Washut, Chris Merz, Paul McKee, and other Iowa writers, showcasing the best jazz musicians that the state has to offer.
With some more exciting projects on the horizon, Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra continues to show people in Iowa and beyond that they don’t always need to look to New York City or Chicago for beautiful, high-quality, creative music -- there are amazing artists and musicians doing incredible things right here.

THE BAND
Saxophones: Jen Tiede, Gabe Scheid, Chris Merz, Joel Linscheid, Simon Harding
Trumpets: Antonio Garza, Dave Rezek, Chris Navarrete, Steve Wheeler
Trombones: Anthony Williams, Rich Medd, Joel Nagel, Michael Stow
Rhythm Section: Dan Padley, Michael Conrad, Drew Morton, Dave Tiede