Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year: Jeffrey Haskell

University Relations - Communications and the Alumni Association
Oct. 30, 2014

Leading up to the UA's 100th Homecoming, we are highlighting UA alumni who are being honored by their colleges with alumni of the year awards.

Jeff Haskell, a pianist, arranger and conductor, entered the world of professional music at age 12, working along jazz greats such as Ray Smyth and Jackie Davis. He began as a scat-singing boy soprano and, by age 16, he was working with saxophonist Lew Tabackin.

Performing on some of the most famous stages in the world during the past 50 years, Haskell's distinguished career as a conductor, composer, arranger, vocalist and pianist has been matched by his dedication to the UA as a student, teacher and mentor.

Haskell has conducted America's most famous orchestras and had his original work performed at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He has composed and arranged music for movies and television, winning three Emmy Awards.

His connection to the UA and Tucson began in the early 1960s, when he arrived to pursue his master's degree and stayed, making Tucson his home.

In 1965, his doctoral work was interrupted by the world-renowned Tucson Boys Chorus. He served as its director for 10 years, also serving as pianist/conductor, arranger/orchestrator and vocalist, then later serving as co-founder and director of the Tucson Jazz Orchestra.

As a professor in the UA School of Music, Haskell dedicated himself to his students, who have achieved recognition both as individual performers and as the much-acclaimed UA Studio Jazz Ensemble. As a popular teacher of jazz history, he has taught thousands of students the joys of "America's own art form." 

He envisioned a school where students would have access to a professional recording studio. Today, under his careful direction and support, the studio is an integral laboratory for research and development in music, allowing students a unique view of the increasingly technical music industry. An effort is underway to permanently endow the UA Recording Studio in honor of Haskell.

Haskell earned his bachelor's degree in music education from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees from the UA's School of Music.

Haskell has been named the UA College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year.

Other UA alumni being honored are:

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