North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Jazz Studies program has earned a reputation as one of the premier university programs. NCCU Jazz Studies offers Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, and three Masters degrees in Jazz Studies, MM, Jazz Performance, MM Composition/Arranging, and a new online MM in Jazz Studies launches Summer 2023. The program was started by the great jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd and brought to prominence by legendary saxophonist/flutist and educator Dr. Ira Wiggins, who retired in June 2021. NCCU’s Jazz faculty include Artists-in-Residence Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo; Interim Director of NCCU’s Jazz Ensemble, Robert Trowers (trombone); Albert Strong (trumpet); Interim Department Chair and Director of Graduate Programs/Jazz, Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds (vocals and director, Vocal Jazz Ensemble); Maurice Myers (vocals); Jim Crew (piano); Thomas Taylor (drums and percussion); Damon Brown (bass) and Dr. Aaron Hill (saxophone). NCCU large and small jazz ensembles are frequently featured at major venues, festivals, and conferences such as the Jazz Education Network Annual Conferences, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Newport Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Vienne Jazz Festival, and the National Association for Music Education Conferences. NCCUs Jazz Ensemble won 3rd place honors in the 2022 Jack Rudin Jazz Collegiate Jazz Competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center, NCCUs Vocal Jazz Ensemble won DownBeat Student Awards for 2022 as well. NCCUs Jazz Ensemble has been invited back to compete at the Jack Rudin Collegiate Jazz Competition for January 2023.