University of Houston Wind Ensemble

    Under the direction of Mr. David Bertman the Wind Ensemble is the University of Houston's premiere performing organization. The ensemble has gained a national reputation through performances at the conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association (1988, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2006, and 2011), College Band Directors National Association, the Meyerson Symphony Hall Series in Dallas, and numerous performances in the Houston metropolitan area.

    The Wind Ensemble has recorded twelve compact discs, including four recorded after being selected by the International Percy Grainger Society to record Grainger's works in a four-volume series. One of their recordings was chosen a compact disc of the year by Sterophile Magazine, and two others were nominated for Grammy awards: volume IV of the Grainger series, and their recording of Gustav Holsts's The Planets—the first college wind ensemble recording to be honored with a Grammy nomination. The 56-member organization performs at least four concerts during the academic year, each exploring the wide diversity of wind-ensemble literature—from the canonic wind repertoire to exciting new and unexplored chamber works written within the last decade.

    The Wind Ensemble was founded by Director Emeritus Eddie Green, who was named Texas Bandmaster of the Year in 1990 and inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2005. During his tenure with the Wind Ensemble, Green became known as one of the leading conductors of wind bands in the United States and continues to be in high demand as a clinician and teacher. His former students from the University of Houston consistently achieve the highest awards at both state and national levels.

    In 2000 Tom Bennett was named Director of the Wind Ensemble. Bennett was named Texas Bandmaster of the Year in 2005, and under his leadership the ensemble has premiered new compositions while continuing to explore the standard literature for wind band. The ensemble prides itself on uncompromising standards of excellence, and its former members uphold these standards as leading music educators throughout the state of Texas.

University of Houston Jazz Orchestra

    The Jazz Orchestra is the premier big band for the Moores School of Music. Under the direction of Noe Marmolejo, the Jazz Orchestra performs two concerts per semester at MSM, including performing with a featured guest artist at each year’s jazz festival.  In addition to this, the Jazz Orchestra also regularly appears outside of the school for music festivals, community outreach and events with Houston performance societies such as DaCamera and Miller Outdoor Theater.