Prof. Jay Wilkinson
Coordinator of Jazz Studies
Email: jazzprof@ou.edu
Jay Wilkinson received his BME and MM in trumpet performance from the University of Oklahoma. As a student he received numerous awards for trumpet performance in jazz and classical, and received a citation for jazz piano. Following his graduate degree, he studied at the University of North Texas and worked with Rodney Booth, Mike Steinel, Steve Wiest, and Keith Johnson.
Wilkinson is now the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He has also taught privately at the Norman Music Institute, Infinity Music, and Imagine Music and Arts. His students have been accepted in honor bands, prestigious graduate programs like IU and UNT, professional touring shows, touring big bands, as well as local dance bands and concert groups. One student performed on the David Letterman Show as the bassist for John Fulbright. During his time at OU he was integral to the establishment of the Joni Rice Memorial Jazz Education Fund, the creation of the BMA and BA degrees with jazz emphases, the substantial increase in guest artists, and the general growth of jazz study within the school of music. He has also broadened his students’ experiences through collaborative efforts with the schools of music theatre, dance, and art. Notably, his top jazz ensemble will be a featured group at the 2020 OkMEA Convention. In addition, Wilkinson has participated at various local jazz festivals as a judge, clinician, and artist. He has been a featured performer at the Oklahoma Music Educator’s National Conference and has judged at the National Trumpet Competition in the jazz and middle school divisions in trumpet performance. Wilkinson also presented a lecture titled, “Jazz, an American Art Form,” at the Norman Public Library and presented at a regional ITG conference demonstrating the most effective ways to practice and develop jazz improvisation.
Wilkinson has completed written works as well. He created a jazz improvisation methods book for his students, he wrote a letter of tribute for the previous jazz director at OU, Mr. John Williams, which was included in the local musician union’s newsletter, and he has contributed an article on the life of Chet Baker to “The Great Plains Encyclopedia.” As a composer he has written countless original works and arrangements. He is sought after by local musicians, music educators and other professionals to write various styles of music, like Danny White of Danny’s Blues Saloon Revue who was featured in a national blues magazine and has recorded numerous albums. He has written music for big band, jazz combo, New Orleans style street band, basketball band, string quartet, ska band, trumpet ensemble, brass quintet, and symphonic band. In 2018 the OU Trumpet Ensemble won first place at the National Trumpet Competition in the trumpet ensemble division performing his arrangement of “Cherokee.” In addition he has composed many original works. Many of these, like his tune, “Reality,” his originals set to the poetry of Langston Hughes, the music of Boyd Street Brass, his brass quintet works and his trumpet ensemble piece, “Cherokee, A Tribute,” have been recorded or performed at reputable events like the DJango Festival on Whidbey Island and Jazz in June in Norman, OK.
More than his work as an educator and composer, Wilkinson has excelled as a performer. Jay has performed at various locations across the U.S. as a vocalist and trumpet player and is a major performer in the Oklahoma City metro area. He is a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and was once featured as a vocalist during a pops concert. His connection with the Philharmonic has allowed him the opportunity to perform with artists like Ray Charles, Mercedes Ellington, Al Jerreau, Manhattan Transfer, Byron Stripling, Chris Botti, Kristin Chenoweth, Renee Fleming, and Kelli O’Hara. He is a member of the Lyric Theatre Orchestra and often plays for traveling shows through Celebrity Attractions which feature some of this country’s finest Broadway performers. Wilkinson is also a trumpeter for the OKC Jazz Orchestra which has performed with Doc Severinsen, Bob Mintzer, Ben Patterson, and Tony Monaco. Jay has performed and toured with other smaller outfits like Boyd Street Brass, The Hot Club of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Brass Quintet. Boyd Street Brass performs at festivals and schools throughout Oklahoma and Texas and has completed two albums titled, “S’up Sucka,” and “Are You Ready for Me.” In August of 2018 BSB was the featured group with the Norman Philharmonic. The Hot Club of Oklahoma, for which Jay played trumpet and sang, performed at the Django Fest on Whidbey Island and the Django Fest held in Kittery, Maine. The Oklahoma Brass Quintet toured for several years visiting sites in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusettes, Texas, and Kansas. Wilkinson has also performed in Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas and Seattle.
