Welcome to the UCL Jazz Society - UCL's Arts Society of the Year!
At the heart of the Society is our friendly, enthusiastic, and diverse community of musicians, and jazz appreciators who love everything about jazz!
We host a variety of events and activities for all our members, from a jazz choir to open Jam sessions. Whether you’re a complete beginner, professional performer, or just enjoy the genre, we are here to welcome you with open arms!
READ BELOW to find out what Jazz Society 2025/2026 will look like:
- REGULAR EVENTS
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Monday:
- Institute of Education Gigs: Every other Monday, we play live jazz at the Institute bar next to the IOE. Come listen to our house band play, or bring your instrument for the jam! Come along, bring a friend, grab some pizza and settle in for an evening of chill vibes!
Tuesday:
- The Jam: The renowned UCL Jazz Society Jam is returning to Phineas every Tuesday from 23th September! Come along and watch our House Band perform at 20:00, which you can sign up to play in here. Join in with our fun, exciting and relaxed Jam from 21:00. You don’t need to prepare anything and you don't have to solo if you don’t want to - all instrumentalists and vocalists of any ability/experience are welcome, so come along and play some jazz standards together! Read our JAM FAQs to find out more.
- Non-auditioned Choir: Join our rehearsals on campus with our Choir instructor Ryan, every Tuesday from 6-8pm. We welcome people of all abilities!
Wednesday:
- Wednesday Workshops: Develop your jazz skills at our weekly Workshops, perfect for those looking to gain experience in improvisation. The Workshops are collaborative jam sessions where our workshop manager, Will, focuses on a specific technique or standard. It's a great place to enhance your knowledge of jazz theory and technical skills!
Thursday:
- Non-auditioned Big Band: Every Thursday, 7-9pm, with our Big Band instructor Luca. It's the perfect place for instrumentalists to experience jazz society in a low-pressure and fun setting! After rehearsals, join us for the big band social at the Huntley and get to know your bandmates!
- Note: Due to unexpectedly large numbers in the Big Band and cast size limits in the Bloomsbury Theatre, certain sections of the Big Band are being auditioned, just until the show on the 15th November. To find out if this applies to you, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BczrTdszc6hGmnmU5FQbPlIClKAAKlXo8Zua9-j8gAA/preview?edit_requested=true
- Rehearsals will remain open for non-rhythm section players!
- UPCOMING SHOW - JAZZ GOES TO THE MOVIES
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In Term 1 - Jazz society will be hosting JAZZ GOES TO THE MOVIES at the 541-seat Bloomsbury Theatre.
Featuring timeless hits from Whiplash, James Bond, The Incredibles and more, we will showcase Jazz Society’s finest, boasting an impressive selection from our Big Band, Small Bands and Choir!
Keep an eye out on this website and our socials for information about auditioning and tickets!
- PAST EVENTS
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FIESTA - An unforgettable night where Jazz met Salsa! The Jazz Society filled the room with live salsa music, while the Salsa Society got everyone on their feet with a dance workshop. With the bands playing, the crowd dancing, and the energy flowing, it’s no surprise this event was named ArtsUCL’s Event of the Year.
GHIBLI JAZZ - In collaboration with the Camden Peoples' Theatre, audiences were taken on a journey through the best music from Studio Ghibli movies - iconic tunes from beloved classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle, reimagined in the styles of swing, latin, fusion and funk.
HIDDEN NOTES - A captivating jazz narrative of the Prohibition era, exploring themes of romance, rebellion, and the emergence of jazz. Encouraged to dress 1920's, guests were immersed into Jazz society's "speakeasy" - hosted on UCL's main campus.
- MEMBERSHIP
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We offer a 2-week 'Taster' period at the start of term 1 and a 1-week 'Re-Taster' at the start of term 2!
Afer this, you must have the FULL £18 MEMBERSHIP to participate in any of our events. These include: Choir and Big Band rehearsals, gigs, The Jam, IOE jams, workshops, social events, and participation in shows throughout the year.
Make sure to grab your membership now!
- SOCIALS
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If you would like to know more about the Society, please visit us on any of the following:
Website - https://ucl-jazz-society.carrd.co
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ucljazzsociety/?hl=en
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UCLJazzSociety/
Email - [email protected]
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/user/nebegb9jrlu3f3ao0bs0sl741
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK-shHCTUNdzftE7gK4ROlg?view_as=subscr…
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us!
We can’t wait to welcome you for another great year of Jazz Society fun!
