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repertoire has been recovered and restored by BYU–Hawaii music professors and students directly from the original, unpublished music manuscripts that once belonged to the original artists.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.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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)
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.