JHU Jazz

Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble

Rehearsal Info

The Jazz Band is a small jazz combo-style group with no set instrumentation. The group largely focuses on improvisational performance. Rehearsals are on Thursday 6pm to 8pm at the Interfaith Center.

The Jazz Ensemble is a larger, big band-style group, with more emphasis on playing jazz charts, while still leaving room for some improvisation as well (improvisational ability is not required). Rehearsals are on Thursday 8pm to 9:30pm at Interfaith Center.

David Saenz

Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble Director

David Saenz is an experienced music educator and jazz musician. David served fifteen years teaching instrumental and general music in Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS), grades pre-K through eight. He implemented American Kodaly Institute best practices and curated diverse music curricula under the tutelage of Peabody Institute early childhood educator Dr. Eric Rasmussen. In 2008, he began a jazz ensemble directorship at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). The JHU student jazz ensemble was awarded honors at the 2014 Villanova University Jazz Festival and collaborated with Chris Vadala, Zaccai Curtis, Dave Ballou, and Jim McFalls. David has performed with Warren Wolf, Jason Palmer, Roger Humphries, and Zaccai Curtis' Insight. David played lead alto in the Whit Willams big band and BCPSS faculty jazz band under Charles Funn. He studied with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Allan Chase, and Eric Kloss while earning music degrees from Carnegie Mellon University (BFA '99) and New England Conservatory of Music (MM '01).