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Profile for Jon Ailabouni

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Jon Ailabouni Pronounce my name

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Assistant Teaching Professor
Music University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Jon Ailabouni's office hours

Tuesday
9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Thursday
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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Jon Ailabouni Pronounce my name Pronouns: He/Him/His

Assistant Teaching Professor

Music

Specialty area(s)

Jazz Ensemble, Trumpet, Brass Quintet, Music Appreciation

Brief biography

Palestinian-American trumpeter, composer, and educator, Jon Ailabouni (he/his) is a sought-after artist based in La Crosse, WI. With a background steeped in Western European classical and Black American jazz traditions, Ailabouni's creative work focuses on instrumental composition and improvisation that uses deeply felt stories as a focal point for expression. Ailabouni's improvisation as a soloist has been described as "sharp and resourceful" (AllAboutJazz.com). His 2023 album, You Are Not Alone, featuring his original compositions, has been presented at numerous venues around the Midwest including Iowa City Jazz Festival, the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee, and Crooner’s in Minneapolis, MN. The album is available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms.

Ailabouni can be heard performing regularly with Chris Merz and Shorter Stories including on the album New Juju, Mike Conrad and the Iowa Jazz Composer’s Orchestra including on the album The Fertile Soil Suite, Isthmus Brass, the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra, and Anders Svanoe’s Teleporting Rhythmic Orchestra (ASTRO).

In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Ailabouni is an emerging national leader at the intersection of jazz and liturgical traditions. He regularly serves as a guest worship director in congregations at gatherings including synod assemblies and most recently the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in New Orleans, LA. Ailabouni’s The Spirit is Moving: A Jazz Liturgy of Renewal and over 50 hymn arrangements in various jazz styles are available on his website, JonAilabouniMusic.com.

Ailabouni serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse where he teaches the trumpet studio, Music Appreciation courses, and directs the Jazz Ensemble and Hoefer Brass Quintet. He is a frequent clinician and guest artist including recent appearances at the Jazz Education Network Conference, Tallcorn Jazz Festival at the University of Northern Iowa and the Southern Arkansas University Jazz Festival.

Current courses at UWL

MUS 105 - Music Appreciation

MUS 134/234/334/434 - Jazz Ensemble

MUS 161 - Chamber Ensemble (Hoefer Brass Quintet)

MUA 207/307 - Applied Trumpet

Education

MM, Music (Jazz Performance), Western Michigan University, 2013

BA, Music, Luther College, 2010 

Career

Teaching history

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (2021-Present)

Winona State University, Winona, MN (2019-2022)

Luther College, Decorah, IA (2013-2021)

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI (2012-2013)

Kudos

presented

Jon Ailabouni, Music, presented a keynote lecture titled "The Spirit is Moving: A Jazz Liturgy of Renewal" at the 9th Annual Phi Beta Kappa Symposium on the Liberal Arts at Luther College in Decorah, IA on Oct. 26. The presentation centered around Ailabouni's newly-composed liturgy that explores the intersection of Lutheran liturgy, jazz traditions, and racial justice ministry. Ailabouni was accompanied by Ellie Hoehne (vocal), Christian Montover (guitar), Michael Van Meter (bass), and Jim Knutson (drums).

Submitted on: Oct. 28, 2024

performed

Jon Ailabouni, Music, performed performed with the Cedar Falls High School Jazz One on Feb. 3 in Cedar Falls, IA for the premiere of Ailabouni's composition "Fraught Hope Blues" arranged for large jazz ensemble by Dr. Mike Conrad. The arrangement was co-commissioned by Cedar Falls High School and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and will be performed by the UWL Jazz Orchestra on April 20 as part of the Spring Jazz Concert.

Submitted on: Feb. 5, 2024

performed

Jon Ailabouni, Music, performed and directed music for the "ELCA Youth Ministry Network 2024 Extravaganza", a national conference for ELCA youth ministers, on Jan. 18 through Jan. 21 in New Orleans, LA. Ailabouni's liturgical compositions and hymn arrangements were featured during six main stage sessions and a Sunday worship service. Ailabouni (trumpet) was joined by an ensemble of New Orleans based jazz musicians to lead music throughout the event.

Submitted on: Jan. 22, 2024

presented

Jon Ailabouni, Music, presented "Centering Women Composers in the Jazz Canon with Beginning Improvisation Students" at the Jazz Education Network Conference on Jan. 6 in New Orleans, LA. 

Submitted on: Jan. 9, 2024

presented

Jon Ailabouni, Music, performed as trumpet soloist on Chris Merz and Shorter Stories album 'New Juju' released digitally on Aug. 15. Ailabouni's arrangement of Wayne Shorter's "Mahjong" appears on the album. Digital album release.

Submitted on: Aug. 16, 2023