Directed by Roberto Spadoni
The Siena Jazz Orchestra (SJO) brings together some of the most talented students from the Academic Diploma courses at Siena Jazz University, representing one of the most significant artistic projects to have emerged from the Academy.
More than just an educational ensemble, the SJO is a permanent creative workshop where training, musical production and performance practice come together to form a genuine, professional artistic experience. The orchestra was founded as a natural extension of the Siena Jazz training programme: a place where young musicians can engage with the world of large-scale jazz ensembles through original productions, musical research and concert performances.
The ensemble is led by Roberto Spadoni, one of the most influential and dynamic figures on the Italian jazz scene, a composer, arranger, conductor and lecturer in jazz composition. Under his direction, the Siena Jazz Orchestra has, over the years, developed a distinct artistic identity based on the originality of its repertoire and a focus on contemporary composition.
One of the defining features of the SJO is, in fact, the creation of original arrangements and compositions, designed specifically for the ensemble. This enables students to engage with new scores and a constantly evolving repertoire, gaining a musical experience that closely mirrors the dynamics of professional production.
Founded as part of the academic programmes at Siena Jazz University in the 2012–2013 academic year, the Siena Jazz Orchestra has quickly established itself on the national and international scene, performing at major festivals, events and artistic projects.
Over the years, the orchestra has collaborated with leading figures on the contemporary jazz scene, including Dave Liebman, Miguel Zenón, Jason Palmer, Avishai Cohen, Walter Smith III, Claudio Fasoli, Giovanni Falzone, Achille Succi, Alessandro Presti, Maurizio Giammarco, Fulvio Sigurtà, David Krakauer, Francesco Fratini and many other leading figures on the international jazz scene.
The repertoire performed over the years includes major monographic projects dedicated to key figures in the history of music and jazz, such as Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Charlie Haden, Benny Golson and Bud Powell.
These projects, together with the original works created specifically for the orchestra, bear witness to the intense musical research, production and experimentation that characterises the work of the SJO.
The Siena Jazz Orchestra also represents the continuation of the Academy’s historic tradition of large jazz ensembles, building on the artistic legacy established over the years by figures such as Bruno Tommaso, Giancarlo Gazzani and Mario Raja, who have been central figures in the orchestral life of Siena Jazz since the 1980s.
