Jay C. Rees is a nationally recognized composer, arranger, conductor, and clinician, as well as a recording and performing artist for musical ensembles across diverse genres. His works have been published, recorded, televised, commissioned, and performed in professional settings as well as at major universities and high schools nationwide.

A celebrated music educator, Rees is renowned for his dynamic leadership workshops and mentorship programs, his guest conducting, and his innovative and visionary style of composing and arranging for concert bands, jazz bands, marching bands, and more. He earned tenure as Professor of Music at the University of Arizona School of Music, and then at the highly acclaimed Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. As Professor Emeritus at UM, he is founder and creative director of the Frost/Rees Mentorship & Outreach Program, developing emerging artists through new musical opportunities.

Equally at home in pop, rock, jazz, and classical music, Rees is an accomplished bassist with international touring credits. He released three LP’s on Summit Records with his original jazz fusion ensemble Sylvan Street, and he created the pop-rock Logical Colours project as bassist, composer and producer.

Rees holds degrees in music education, jazz performance, and wind conducting. He is a member of ASCAP, The Recording Academy, and CBDNA.