Prof. Jay Wilkinson
Coordinator of Jazz Studies
Email: jazzprof@ou.edu
Jay Wilkinson is a respected jazz educator, trumpeter, and vocalist. As the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at the University of Oklahoma he is in charge of organizing events, booking guest artists, and program development. The establishment of the Joni Rice Memorial Jazz Education Fund, and the Jazz Collective Scholarship Fund are primarily due to his efforts. He has also overseen the creation of the BMA and BA degrees with jazz emphases, and is responsible for the substantial increase in guest artists and community engagement. During his time at OU, he has broadened his students’ experiences through collaborative efforts with the schools of musical theatre, dance, and art. He is the director of Jazz O, co-director of the Summer Jazz Collective, and leads instruction of the various jazz combos. He teaches jazz improvisation, jazz history, applied jazz trumpet and mentors students interested in vocal jazz, jazz composition and jazz arranging.
Wilkinson also maintains a professional career independent of OU. He has taught 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. He 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.
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, (featured in a national blues magazine), and the Grammy nominated Sugar Free All Stars. 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. His arrangement of “Cherokee” for trumpet ensemble was performed by the OU Trumpet Ensemble, winner of the 2018 ensemble division of the National Trumpet Competition. Of his many original works many, 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, Jazz in June in Norman, OK, and the Comedy Arena Jazz Showcase in McKinney Texas.
Along with 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 has been featured as a vocalist on multiple occasions. 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,(completing 2 albums), The Hot Club of Oklahoma,(performing on both coasts), and the nationally touring Oklahoma Brass Quintet.
Jay Wilkinson studied at the University of Oklahoma and North Texas University. He has received awards and citations in trumpet performance, jazz improvisation, and jazz piano. Among those with whom he studied are Rodney Booth, Mike Steinel, Steve Wiest, and Keith Johnson.
