Capping off a standout year, Temple Jazz Orchestra performed at jazz festivals in Italy, France and Spain.

The Temple Jazz Orchestra has deep roots in Philadelphia, but this summer, they got the chance to take their act on the road. The award-winning jazz band, composed of undergraduate and graduate students from Boyer College of Music and Dance, performed for members of the Temple community at Temple Rome before traveling to France to perform at Jazz in Marciac and then Spain for the Santander Music Festival and Xabia Jazz Festival. 

“What other collegiate jazz band gets invited to headline at premier European jazz festivals?” said Robert Stroker, vice provost for the arts and Joslyn G. Ewart Dean of Boyer College of Music and Dance and the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. “The reputation of our students and faculty continues to open doors to new experiences. We’re all incredibly proud of them, and excited to see what new opportunities lay ahead.” 

With long travel days, little sleep and performances almost every day, band Director and Director of Jazz Studies Terell Stafford recognizes the trip was hardly a vacation.  

“This was such a grueling trip for everyone, sometimes playing until late into the night and then waking up for a 4:30 a.m. departure for the next city,” said Stafford. “For the students, it was a reality check that life on tour can be exhausting, but that is balanced with being so appreciated for doing what you love. The band played phenomenally and the audiences were tremendously receptive.” 

The experience taught students how to care for themselves while meeting the demands of professional touring. 

“Trips like this are really important for learning how to keep yourself in good condition as a musician,” said Jesse Deems, BYR ’26, trumpet player and first-year student in the master in jazz studies program. “It’s the exhilaration you get while performing that reminds you why it’s all worth it.”  

The trip came during a banner year for the Temple Jazz Orchestra. In January, the band took first place at the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship at Lincoln Center, where it competed against nine of the country’s top collegiate jazz ensembles. The band and its members also earned numerous individual and ensemble honors.

In March, the band traveled to Japan for performances in Kyoto and Tokyo, recording a second installment of its Live from Japan series, following Live from Japan, volume 1, recorded during the band’s 2025 Japan tour. 

In April, Philadelphia City Council presented a privileged resolution honoring the Jazz Orchestra and Stafford for the national championship. Councilmember at-large Nina Ahmad described the achievement as “a source of pride for Philadelphia” in her introduction of the resolution. 

Despite the rigorous itinerary, students still had some time to enjoy cultural exchange and personal reflection. For Kiara Rouse, saxophone player and Class of 2029 jazz performance saxophone major, the trip expanded her perspective on what’s possible in the art of jazz. She noticed that musicians she encountered in Europe seemed less constrained by traditional expectations of the genre and more willing to explore new forms of expression. 

“It made me realize that there's so much more music out there and that there are so many other places with so many other kinds of music, and that it's still worth it to experience that, too,” said Rouse. 

The experience of traveling together also strengthened the students’ collective bond that generates the shared trust necessary to perform at a high caliber.  

“These are truly elite musicians. I feel blessed to play with them every day,” said Deems. “There’s so much humility, and I think that very heavily contributes to the success of the band.”