Synthesis plans tribute to American songwriters Nov. 20 - BYU News Skip to main content
Intellect

Synthesis plans tribute to American songwriters Nov. 20

Brigham Young University's top jazz ensemble Synthesis will perform its "Tribute to the Great American Songwriters" Wednesday (Nov. 20) at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $9 for the general public with $3 off with BYU or student ID are available in the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hfac.

A full 18-member big band, Synthesis will honor great American songwriters such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin and Duke Ellington, performing such favorites as "Strike Up the Band," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Ol' Man River," "Summertime" and "Sing, Sang, Sung."

"Jazz is known for its spontaneous creativity, its energy," said Ray Smith, director of Synthesis and BYU professor of woodwinds. "People walk out of our concerts just feeling better."

Formed in 1973, the 18- to 20-member group holds rigorous annual auditions to choose its members from among BYU's finest musicians. Performers are students pursuing degrees in a variety of areas.

Synthesis has performed at jazz festivals throughout the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival and France's Montreaux Jazz Festival and Antibes Jazz Festival.

Writer: Elizabeth B. Jensen

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

BYU’s 2025 awards season honors student standouts

May 15, 2025
Rise and shout! Across various disciplines, BYU students have been recognized for their world-class accomplishments.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Student inventors help BYU rank as a top U.S. university for newly-issued patents

May 12, 2025
Brigham Young University was just ranked as one of the Top 100 universities in the nation for most issued patents. But the new ranking from the National Academy of Inventors isn’t the story for BYU; it’s who holds the patents.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

BYU research: Your beliefs about money may reveal clues about your relationship

May 07, 2025
Everyone holds their own beliefs about money – what it’s for, how much we need and how to use it. But a new study from researchers at BYU says personal beliefs about money also shape the health of your relationship.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=