University of North Texas
Bellevue, Washington
Brian Lawrence is a versatile composer, arranger, educator, and producer specializing in jazz and commercial music. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas College of Music, Division of Jazz Studies, where he worked as a Doctoral Teaching Fellow. In this role, Brian directed the Seven O’Clock Lab Band, taught courses in jazz arranging and jazz piano, and performed with the renowned, seven-time Grammy-nominated UNT One O’Clock Lab Band. Prior to UNT, Brian served as Interim Director of Jazz Studies at Central Washington University, as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and taught public school music in the Greater Seattle area.
Under Brian’s leadership, the CWU Jazz Band was awarded a 2022 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble. A passionate jazz educator, Brian is a frequent clinician at regional schools and festivals. He has presented at the Jazz Education Network Conference, Washington Music Educators Association Conference, and has been featured on Microsoft’s Education Blog.
Brian’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by prominent artists and ensembles including Tia Fuller, Joshua Redman, Lyle Lovett, Allison Miller, Helen Sung, Michael League, the United States Air Force Band Airmen of Note, and the United States Army Blues. His work has been featured at events such as The Midwest Clinic, the Tournament of Roses Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, London New Year’s Day Parade, The Boeing Classic Golf PGA Champions Tournament, Seattle Seahawks NFL halftime shows, New Zealand’s Christchurch Big Band Jazz Festival, and on Carnival Cruise Line and NBC’s The Today Show.
Brian’s performance credits include serving as musical director for a nationally touring Carpenters tribute band, performing with Princess and Holland America Cruise Lines, the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy directed by Christian McBride, and numerous freelance engagements. Collegiate credits include the UNT One and Two O’Clock Lab Bands, the UNLV Jazz Ensemble 1, and the CWU Jazz Band 1. As a student performer and composer, Brian is an eight-time recipient of DownBeat Magazine‘s Student Music Awards.
Brian publishes his compositions and arrangements through his website www.BrianLawrenceMusic.com, and Hal Leonard’s ArrangeMe platform. His work reflects a commitment to artistic excellence, creativity, and leadership in music and music education.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Expanding the Jazz Canon: Strategies for Programming Works by Women in the Large Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, January 10, 2026
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM CST
