Purdue Jazz Band Director Recognized as Jazz Educator of the Year by Indianapolis Jazz Foundation
Dr. Mo Trout has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Educator of the Year Award. The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation recognizes and commemorates the jazz greats who continue to provide extraordinary leadership to the jazz community. Each year, one person is selected for this honor. “I am excited to have been selected as the Jazz Educator of the Year. The fact that my name was selected over many others in the state is humbling and a true honor.”
Back at Purdue, Dr. Trout is the director of the jazz program. He has been at Purdue since 1997 and he currently directs the Purdue Jazz Band, American Music Repertory Ensemble, Lab Jazz Band 1 & 2, and the Concert Jazz Band. Most recently, he has integrated a new group known as the Guitar Ensemble into the program, which focuses on contemporary and popular styles of performance.
While Purdue University is very unique when compared to other Big Ten institutions, because there are no music majors, over 850 students participated in instrumental music ensembles this fall semester. In the spring semester, the jazz programs will continue to overflow the basement of Slayter Center with membership in five full big bands, the guitar ensemble and at least five combo groups.
Under the direction of Dr. Trout, the Purdue Jazz Band has collaborated with several internationally known artists including, Bill Watrous, Bob Mintzer, The New York Voices, Marvin Hamlisch, Wayne Begeron, Tom Harrell and more! All jazz ensembles have had the opportunity to travel and tour both nationally and internationally under Trout’s tenure. Performances have included; four European tours at the Montreux, Alpine and North Sea International Jazz Festivals and three study abroad trips to Italy, Eastern Europe and Spain. In June 2014, Dr. Trout and a group of jazz students were honored when they received an invitation to participate in a series of jazz camps in Colombia, South America.
The Indianapolis Jazz Foundation event begins at 6 p.m. at the Jewel Arts and Events Center, 3333 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis, with the awards program and performances beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person ($50 for Jazz Foundation members) and include a dinner buffet. Ticket and membership information is available online at indyjazzfoundation.org or indyjazzfest.net.