about us

Jay C. Rees - Director of the "Pride of Arizona"

Jay Rees is an experienced music educator with a varied background as a conductor, composer, arranger, and performer. Concert, jazz, and athletic bands across the country perform his original compositions and arrangements. He is published with Warner Bros./C.P.P. Belwin and Musicexpresso.com and his work is commissioned annually by major universities and high schools.

 

Rees conducts the UA Wind Symphony and teaches undergraduate music education courses. He also travels as a clinician, guest speaker and adjudicator for band programs nationwide. Under his inspired direction, the University of Arizona's marching and pep bands have attained national reputation with Rees' contemporary arrangements and innovative drill design. The Pride of Arizona have released CD recordings and are heard as part of an Electronic Arts college basketball computer software program. They have appeared in numerous television features including NBC-TV's Today Show and Fox Sports.

 

Rees is an accomplished musician in jazz performance, having appeared throughout U.S., Canada and Japan. He toured with the international recording act The Lettermen as bassist and music director and is featured on their 1991 album release Now and Then. He currently collaborates with the UA jazz faculty and performs at UA's annual AZ Jazz festival.

 

Rees choreographed a live "human flag" for the Tucson community in response to the events of 9/11/01. His imaginative design incorporated 10,000 citizens and became a national symbol. The image appeared on CNN and was published in a special issue of Sports Illustrated.

 

Rees is listed in Who's Who In America for the 21st Century as well as Who's Who Among America's Teachers. A native of Detroit, Rees lived in Miami and Los Angeles before making his home in Tucson with his wife and two sons.