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Studio Orchestra

The BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra is a full orchestra with vocalists specializing in music that blends jazz, classical, and popular music, including the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cloe, and Hollywood music studios.

About the Orchestra

The BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra brings a fresh, fashionable, and comedic new twist to the popular music of the golden age of jazz and Hollywood. A 45-piece jazz orchestra fronted by wildly entertaining vocal soloists and a vocal jazz quartet, the Studio Orchestra specializes in the light, lively, and humorous music of the 1940s and 50s.

Most of the orchestra's repertoire has never been heard live on any stage since it was recorded 60 to 80 years ago by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and The Pied Pipers. Powered by years of archival and academic research, the orchestra's repertoire has been recovered and restored by BYU–Hawaii music professors and students directly from the original, unpublished music manuscripts that once belonged to the original artists. Add to this special music a burst of youthful energy with new choreography, costuming, and sketch comedy, and the BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra offers a level of musical entertainment not to be missed.

Ensemble

Singers

Abrielle Uyehara

Claire Westcott

Dallin McKinney

John Zenger

Joey Powell

Lexi Ostvig

Mila Cutler

Strings

Claire Wilson, violin

Erika Agudo, violin

Kate Mclellan, violin

Lauren Berge, violin

Maclaine Day, violin

Mele Morgan, violin

Michael Pinpin, violin

Mila Cutler, violin

Natalia Dutton, violin

Rosa Morgan, violin

Tyler Moffat, violin

Victoria Becker, violin

Annie Jones, violin, concertmaster

Angela Gach, viola

Johannah Chou, viola

Masaki Iwasa, viola

Taleah Butler, viola

Rebecca Carlson, harp

Katyana Cahill, cello

Quincy Keele, cello

Reyna Workman, cello

John Zenger, cello

Winds

Eva Henderson, flute

Jade Jenkins, flute

Lily Bybee, flute

Lexi Ostvig, flute

Kiya Smith, clarinet

Michael Thornton, bass clarinet, alto saxophone

Will Cui, alto saxophone, clarinet

Josiah Uyehara, alto saxophone

Micah Curtis, baritone saxophone

Ellie Shek, tenor saxophone

Haruna Sato, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet

Zach Bowen, Tenor Trombone

Brass

Evan Morelock, trumpet

Kale Moss, trumpet

Serena Wall, trumpet

Sono Fifita, trumpet

Taylor McKendrick, trumpet

Vilai Jr Ilolahia, trumpet

Arana Thongmee, trombone

Ephraim Uyehara, trombone

Ezra Gellert, trombone, bass trombone, tuba

Elle Larson, french horn

Emmie Siebert, french horn

Eric Orr, french horn, trumpet

Joey Powell, French Horn

Rhythm

Nick Arancibia, guitar

Alex Wolfersberger, drums

Blake Peterson, piano

Paulo Awe, bass

Jennifer Duerden, percussion

Lia Basalusalu, percussion

Natalie Day, percussion

Rhiannon Shumway, percussion

Music Videos

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"Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"

From the original manuscript performed by the BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra in March 2023.
Music by Allie Wrubel, Lyrics by Ray Gilbert (1946). Arranged by Paul Weston for Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers on Capitol Records (1946).
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"Come Fly With Me"

Performed by the BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra in March 2023.
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn (1958) Arranged by Billy May for Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" album (1958).
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"Aren't You Glad You're You?"

Performed by the BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra in March 2023.
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen, Lyrics by Johnny Burke (1945). Arranged by Paul Weston for The Pied Pipers on Capitol Records (1945).
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"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"

Performed by the BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra in March 2023.
Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer (1944). Arranged by Matty Matlock for Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers (1944).
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"Jamboree Jones" (Touchdown Edition)

Performed by the BYU–Hawaii Studio Orchestra in March 2023.
Music and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer (1937) Arranged by Paul Weston for Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers (1944)
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Director

Portrait of Daniel Henderson

Dr. Daniel Henderson joined the faculty of BYU–Hawaii in 2016. Prior to moving to the islands, he taught Jazz Harmony and Jazz Improvisation at Harvard University, where he was an eight-time recipient of the Harvard University Certificate of Teaching Excellence. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance from Brigham Young University, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Jazz Composition with Academic Honors from New England Conservatory, and was the 2011 recipient of the Gunther Schuller Medal, considered NEC’s highest honor. While he has performed hundreds of times around the world for humans, Daniel is perhaps most well-known for his spontaneous starring role in the viral video “Jazz for Cows,” which has been featured on Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, and Good Morning America.

Presenter Resources