Murray State University Department of Music hosts jazz concert
By Skyler Brasher | Nov 6, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — The Murray State Jazz Orchestra, Murray State Jazz Band, Blue Jazz Combo and Gold Jazz Combo will come together on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium for the second jazz concert of the fall semester. The performance is free and open to the public.
Dr. Jonathan Nickell, assistant professor of saxophone, is the director of the Murray State jazz ensembles and says the groups have had a successful semester of performances so far and often perform off campus as well.
“These combos, along with our Jazz Orchestra, have performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and other various jazz festivals across the U.S.,” said Nickell. “They also have toured Kentucky, performing at venues for public audiences while visiting high schools to perform for and work with jazz students.”
The Blue Jazz Combo was recently featured at the “Behind The Velvet Rope” event hosted by Racer Dining at the Curris Center earlier this semester, along with a performance at Jackson Hall’s dedication ceremony.
The Jazz Orchestra includes students Bryson Barger, Trent Browne, Joshua Buxton, JL Cinotto, Dalton Damall, Payne DeHaven, Robyn Downey, Issac Elkins, Chris Gissendaner, Timothy Hanley, Addison Happner, Judah Maddox, Zach Mitchell, Cammy Pillow, Alex Rogers, Will Sheffer, Xander Slover, Andy Slown, Abe Taylor, Abbie Tompkins and Dean Worley.
The Jazz Band includes Jacob Abanathy, Benny Arvin, Ferris Baker, Declan Bingham, Joshua Buxton, Marshall Davis, Allison Dennison, Dylan Donahue, Micayla Doyle, Nathaniel Fowler, Sydney French, Alex Gessner, Timothy Hanley, Kaleb McIntosh, CW Morris, Gavin Ottway, Ryley Pribble, Ethan Sexton, Mykayla Smithee, Christian Watkins, Ryan Werry, Trey Wimsatt and Jakob Winstead.
The Blue Jazz Combo includes Declan Bingham, JL Cinotto, Dalton Darnall, Isaac Elkins, Chris Gissendaner, Addison Heppner, Sean Howell, Cammy Pillow, Alex Rogers and Abbie Tompkins. Ferris Baker, Declan Bingham, Sydney French, Alex Gesser, Aaron Moody, Christian Watkins, Ryan Werry and Jakob Winstead make up the Gold Jazz Combo.
For more information on this event and other jazz events, contact Dr. Jonathon Nickell, jazz ensemble director at jnickell2@murraystate.edu or by phone at 270-809-6337. More information on Nickell can also be found at his website https://jonathonnickell.com/. For more information about the Department of Music, visit murraystate.edu/music.