Band

The University of Dubuque Band under the direction of Dr. James Sherry has a distinguished history, and is one of the oldest college bands west of the Mississippi. During the last two years, the University Band has increased in size and has grown in visibility through sponsoring high-profile musical events on campus. In November 2007, Sherry brought Downbeat Magazine 2007 Jazz Educator of the Year to the campus to direct a high school "All-Star Band" and present jazz workshops for hundreds of music students.

The University of Dubuque has much to offer you if you wish to pursue your interest in instrumental music.

You will have the opportunity to participate in Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Big Band, the Urban Experience Gospel Ensemble, and several student-organized rock bands as well as the student-directed Pep Band that performs at many home athletic contests.

The UD Jazz Ensemble has performed throughout the City of Dubuque and finished a fall 2007 tour of Eastern Iowa schools. As a member of Jazz Ensemble, you will receive improvisation instruction at no additional charge. However, all UD students may also elect to take in private music lessons, with the permission of the instructor, on an individual fee basis.

Students with an interest in instrumental music are often also active in theatre arts, choir, student government or varsity sports. Many decide to complete a minor in music which complements an academic major in aviation, computer graphics, nursing, education or English.

You will experience the benefit of being in Dubuque, an All-America City with its vibrant arts community , which makes it possible for accomplished fine and performing artists to come to the campus to work with interested UD students.

Dr. Sherry comes to the University of Dubuque after serving as Director of Bands at the Johns Hopkins University, Chicago's Merit School of Music, and Mahidol College of Music in Bangkok, Thailand. He has directed Honor Bands in Baltimore, Chicago, Dubuque and Southeast Asia and has conducted or performed in forty-five of the United States and on three continents. Dr. Sherry received his musical training at Yale University and the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.