The Jazz Workshop Orchestra Big Band and Combos represent some of the most dedicated music students at Denver School of the Arts.

The Big Band and Combos will be traveling in March 2026 to New York City where many members will be performing at Carnegie Hall, and all JWO students will enjoy a breathtaking array of musical and cultural experiences, culminating in a workshop with musicians from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a performance in Manhattan! Help us make dreams a reality for these budding musicians!

All ensembles benefit from frequent collaboration with guest artists and clinicians, giving students meaningful opportunities to work with university professors, nationally recognized musicians, and DSA’s own faculty of practicing artists.

Students in the program have recently earned honors such as DownBeat Student Awards, YoungArts Awards, Colorado All-State Jazz Band selections, and placements in the Yamaha Music for All Jazz Band of America. Many alumni continue their studies at leading music schools—including Juilliard, Eastman, Berklee, NYU, the University of North Texas, USC Thornton, and Manhattan School of Music—and now perform, compose, and teach professionally.

Together, the Jazz Workshop Orchestra Big Band and Combos create a learning environment where students grow as musicians, collaborators, and creative thinkers while deepening their understanding of jazz through consistent ensemble and performance experiences.