Centre for Jazz Studies UK

The Centre for Jazz Studies UK was established at Leeds College of Music in September 2005. It is a dynamic centre of excellence for jazz, unparalleled in this country, which brings together education, performance and research in jazz. The Centre’s mission is to support the development of jazz in the UK through education, performance and composition, outreach, research, collaborative partnerships and the brokering of unique, creative projects.

The Centre uses Leeds College of Music’s experience and reputation in contemporary music development to support sector-wide initiatives, working in collaboration with partners across the UK and internationally. The Centre has a proactive role in forging creative partnerships both within the Leeds College of Music environment and externally, and plays a strategic role in the development of the College’s full portfolio of jazz activities, including the pioneering Leeds International Jazz Conference.

Since its launch in 2005, the Centre for Jazz Studies has led a range of sector-wide projects, working in collaboration with UK and international partners. Centre initiatives have included the creation of the CUK Big Band, a contemporary jazz ensemble drawing on musicians from the nine UK conservatoires, and Creative Exchange, a composition project that champions student composers alongside new works commissioned from leading UK professionals.

Other projects include the publication of the international journal the source: challenging jazz criticism, the ESRC-funded IMP: comparative studies in advanced musical learning and an interdisciplinary study on teaching improvisation in Higher Education funded by PALATINE.